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T^^>§^ 


^     ^^     O 


FRANCIS    IJACOX. 


THE   ESSAYS 


UK 


COUNSELS    CIVIL    AND    MORAL 


OF 


FRANCIS    BACON 


LORD   VERULAM,    VISCOUNT   ST.    ALBANS 


EDITED  WITH  INTRODUCTION   AND  NOTES 

HV 

GEORGE  HEKBERT  CLARKE,  M.A. 

LATK    PROFESSOR    OF    KN«;MSH    IN 
MFRCKR    IMVKRSITY 


THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON :  MACMILLAN  AND  CO.,  Ltd. 
1915 

I//  lights  res-erred 


?Fi 


ib/c 


^ 


G 


0 


"""  COPTRIOIIT,   1905, 

By  the  MACMILLAX   COMPANY. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped.     Published  November,  1905.     Reprinted 
October,  1907:  May,  1908;  August,  1909  ;  March,  ,911  ;  August,  1913- 
January,  1915. 


Co 

©.  E,  C 


PREFACE 

The  present  edition  of  Bacon's  Essru/s  has  been 
prepared  in  the  hope  that  the  young  students  in 
whose  hands  it  is  placed  may  (piickly  come  to  feel 
the  charm  of  these  frank  commentaries  upon  life 
and  its  ])roblems,  and  to  recognize,  witli  Emerson 
that,  despite  his  limitations,  IJacon  ''  marks  the  intiux 
of  idealism  into  Kngland.  Wlien*  that  goes  is  poetry, 
health  and  ]»rogress.'' 

The  editor  desires  to  express  his  sense  of  indebted- 
ness, for  many  valuable  suggestions,  to  the  standai-d 
editions  of  the  E.smi/s,  particularly  those  of  Dr. 
Wright,  Dr.  Abbott,  Uv.  Reynolds,  Mr.  Selby,  and 
.Mr.  Anderson,  and  also  to  the  faithful  labours  of 
Baton's  chief  biographers,  named  iu  the  Bibliography. 


G.  H.  C. 


lii 


H^ 


CONTENTS 


Preface 


iNTKODrCTIOX: 

Life  of  Bacon  , 

Bacon  as  a  Philosopher 

Tlie  Essays 


Bibliography    .         .        ,        .        . 

J        •        • 

.   Ixix 

Es-iAV 

s  OK  (\)UNSKi.s  Civil  and  Moral: 

I. 

Of  Truth         .... 

1 

II. 

Oi  Death          .... 

4 

III. 

Of  Unity  in  Heliuion 

6 

IV. 

Of  Keveiige 

.      12 

V. 

Of  Adversity  .... 

.      14 

VI. 

Of  Sinudation  and  Dissimulation   . 

15 

VII. 

Of  Parents  and  Children 

20 

VIII. 

Of  Marriage  and  Single  Life  . 

.      22 

IX. 

Of  Envy 

24 

X. 

Of  Love  

,      30 

XI. 

Of  Great  Place        .... 

33 

XII. 

Of  Boldness 

37 

XIII. 

Of  Goodness,  ami  Cioodness  of  Nature    . 

39 

XIV. 

Of  Nobility      .... 

•        •        • 

.      43 

PAGE 

•  •  • 

111 


ix 

zliii 
>  zlviii 


VI 


CONTENTS 


PAOF, 

XV. 

Of  Seditions  and  Troubles 

.       45 

XVI. 

Of  Atheism     .        .         .        .         , 

.       54 

XVII. 

Of  Superstition       .... 

.     r>7 

XVIII. 

Of  Travel        ..... 

.       ftti 

XIX. 

Of  Empire       .                  ,         .         . 

02 

XX. 

( )f  Counsel 

.       6R 

XXI. 

Of  Delays 

74 

XXII. 

Of  Cunning 

7(i 

XXIII. 

Of  Wisdom  fur  a  Man's  Self 

81 

XXIV. 

Of  Innovations        .... 

.     8;; 

XXV. 

Of  l)i.spatcli 

.       84 

XXVI. 

Of  Seeming  Wise    . 

87 

XXVII. 

Of  Friendsiiip          .... 

89 

XXVIII. 

Of  Expense 

.       08 

XXIX. 

Of  the  True  Greatness  of  Kingdoms 

and  Es- 

tates   

.     100 

XXX. 

Of  Regiment  of  Health  . 

.     112 

XXXI. 

( )f  Suspicion  .... 

.     114 

XXXII. 

Of  Discourse  .... 

,     110 

XXXIII. 

Of  Plantations        .... 

.     118 

XXXIV. 

Of  inches        

.     122 

XXXV. 

Of  rrophceies 

.     127 

XXXVI. 

Of  Ambition 

.     130 

XXXVII. 

Of  Masfjues  and  Triumphs 

13:^. 

XXXVIII. 

Of  Nature  in  Men  .... 

.     135 

XXXIX. 

Of  Custom  and  Education 

.     138 

XL. 

Of  Fortune 

,     140 

XLL 

Of  Tsury 

.     142 

XLII. 

Of  Youth  and  Age           ... 

.     147 

XLIIL 

Of  Beauty       .         .                 .         . 

.     150 

XLIV. 

Of  Deformity          .... 

.     151 

XLV. 

Of  Building 

.     153 

COXTKXTS 


Vll 


I'Ai.l 

XLVI. 

( )f  Gardens 

158 

XLVII. 

Of  Negotiatinji 

1tJ7 

XLVllI. 

Of  Followers  and  Friends      .        .         .        . 

1 «'»',» 

XLIX. 

Of  Suitors 

171 

I.. 

Of  Studies 

17:5 

LI. 

( >f  Fraction 

17.-, 

LII. 

Of  Ceremonies  and  Hespects 

178 

LI  11. 

Of  Praise 

180 

l:v. 

Of  Vain-iilory 

182 

LV. 

Of  Honour  and  Reputation    . 

.     184 

LVI. 

Of  Judicature 

.     187 

LVII. 

Of  Anger 

.     VJ'2 

LVIU. 

Of  Vicissitude  of  Tilings 

.     19o 

Notes 

■        J.        •••«•« 

.     20;i 

Index 

•        ••••«•*' 

.    30:5 

INTRODUCTION 


THl^  LIFE  OF  l^ACGN 


"It  cannot  ))e  cloniod,"  wrote  Bacon  in  1612,  "but 
outward  accidents  conduce  much  to  fortu!ic  ;  favour, 
opportunit}',  death  of  others,  occasion  fitting  virtue. 
But  chiefly,  the  mould  of  a  man's  fortune  is  in  his 
own  hands."  These  are  wise  woids,  and  lead  us, 
before  tracing  the  movement  of  ''his  own  hands," 
to  consider  for  a  moment  the  age,  the  parentage, 
and  the  kinships  of  the  future  Lord  Chancellor  of 
England  as  affecting  his  "favour"  and  his  "oppor- 
tunity." 

The  gentle,  dreamy  Spenser  sings  in  his  epic  of 
faery :  — 

'After  long  storines  and  tempests  overblowne 
The  sun  at  length  his  joyous  face  doth  clearer 
So  whenas  fortune  all  her  spight  hath  showii 
Some  blissfull  homes  at  last  must  needes  appeare." 

So  came  the  days  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  with  their 
astonishing  progress  in  the  intellectual,  artistic,  and 
economic  life;  their  strong  quickening  of  the  seeds  of 
freedom;  their  constant  stimulus  to  the  alert  and 
ambitious;  their  beckon  to  higher  thought  and  action; 


jxrHourcTioN 


(lays,  at  tlioir  best,  of  childlike  curiosity  and  ripe 
caniestnoss;  of  theory  and  affairs  balancing  each 
other;  of  quick,  frank  plays  upon  the  stage  of  life. 
Those  were  suidit  days,  before  the  student  had  l)ecome 
a  jaded  bookman,  the  Puritan  a  reforming  oppressor, 
the  romanticist  a  too  loyal  suitor  of  melancholy. 
And  positive  Klizabeth,  at  her  best,  was  their  symbol 
and  exemplar,  the  idol  and  concern  of  every  English- 
man. 

Her  first  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Seals,  Sir  Nicholas 
iiacoii,  was  a  man  of  legal  learning,  fine  personal 
character,  and  corresponding  reputation,  and  was 
looked  uj)()n  by  his  royal  mistress  with  respect  and 
regard.  His  second  wife,  Anne,  was  a  daughter  of 
Sir  Anthony  Cooke,  tutor  to  King  Edward  VL,  and 
was  possessed  of  umisual  culture,  being  carefully 
trained  each  night  by  her  father  until  she  had  acquired 
a  sound  scholarship  in  theology,  literature,  and  the 
languages.  This  strict  progrannne,  however,  had 
detracted  little  from  her  personal  or  social  charms. 
She  became,  though  increasinglv  masterful,  a  faithful 
wife  and  devoted  mother.  There  were  born  to  her 
two  sons,  Anthony  and  Francis,  the  latter  January 
22,  15G0  (our  I06I),  at  York  House,  London.  Both 
were  capable  boys,  l)ut  the  younger,  despite  his 
always  delicate  health,  soon  proved  himself  peculiarly 
gifted.  The  philosojjher  in  little  Ijroke  ins  drums  "  to 
look  for  the  sound,"  and  eagerly  explored  n  brick 
conduit  during  playtime  that  he  might  discover  the 
cause  of  a  remarkably  full   echo;   and  the  embryo 


iNTHOIH'Crioy 


XI 


courtier  pleased  Elizabeth  with  happy  turns  of  phrase 
and  graceful  flattery.  It  is  important  to  recognize 
that  in  both  these  respects  Bacon  was  of  his  time  as 
of  his  family.  Of  that  family  his  mother's  sister  had 
married  William  (Veil,  afterward  Lord  Hurleigh  (or 
liurghley),  the  powerful  Lord  Treasurer  of  England. 
His  son,  Sir  Robert  Cecil,  First  Secretary  of  State, 
was  iiacon's  first  cousin.  \^\  virtue  of  his  relation- 
ship to  these  high  personages,  and  the  connections 
and  oi)|)()rtunities  affordeti  by  that  relatic  ^sliip,  it 
is  re.'isonablc  to  infer,  in  Montagu's  striking  phrase, 
that  Jiacon  was  "cradled  in  politics." 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  Francis  entered  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge,  with  i;is  brother  Anthony. 
He  had  gone  up  thither  with  confident  as])irations 
and  yet  comes  to  confess  somewhat  prot(\stingly  — 
and,  jierhaps,  with  a  certain  juveniHty  — -  that  after 
the  novelty  wore  av.ay  he  had  more  real  occasion  for 
disliking  the  atmosphere  and  Ui,  frhods  of  the  uni- 
versity thaii  he  had  supposed  possible.  I^ven  at 
this  early  age  he  found  himself  quickly  abl  to  dis- 
tinguish between  the  nobility  of  k'arning  and  its 
captiousness.  He  met  in  Cambridge,  he  tells  us, 
with  nmch  wit,  l»ut  littk'  power.  "In  the  universi- 
ties, all  things  are  found  opj)()site  to  the  advancement 
of  tlie  sciences;  for  the  readings  and  exercises  are 
here  so  managed  that  it  ramioi  easily  come  iiUo  any 
one's  mind  to  think  of  things  out  of  the  common  roail. 
.  .  .  For  the  studies  of  men  in  such  places  are  con- 
fined, and  pinned  down   to  the  writings  of  certain 


xu 


INTRODUt'TIOX 


authors;  from  which,  if  any  man  happens  to  differ 
he  is  presently  represented  as  a  distiir))er  and  inno- 
vator. "  Three  years  of  residence  were  ail,  apparently-, 
that  he  could  endure.  In  any  case,  he  withdrew 
without  seekiny;  a  decree,  and  was  attached  by  his 
father  to  the  service  of  Sir  Amyas  Paulett,  the  Ensi- 
lish  ambassador  to  France.  So  well  did  he  con- 
duct himself  while  in  Paris  that  Sir  Amyas  entrusted 
him  with  a  private  mission  to  Elizabeth,  which  he 
executed  with  wisdom  and  fidelity.  Upon  the  aj^point- 
nutit  of  a  new  minister  Bacon  travelled  in  the  French 
provinces,  but  was  called  home  suddenly,  in  1  ">7i),  b, 
the  aimouncement  of  his  father's  death.  Februarv  20. 
J^acon  was  now  face  to  face  with  the  ]iroblem  of  his 
personal  support  and  the  welfare  of  his  father's 
survivors.  Sir  Nicholas  had  not  been  rich,  and  his 
son  felt  himself  unwillin<2;ly  constrained  to  enter  the 
profession  of  law.  Unwillin»iy,  for  liacon  had  been 
hoping  that  the  mi«;hty  (Veils  would  further  his 
fortunes  and  induce  the  Queen  to  bestow  upon  him  a 
political  post  with  a  competence.  The  Cecils,  wisely 
enon<j;h  from  tiieir  point  of  view,  d(M  lined  to  maice 
life  so  easy  for  him,  and  he  reluctantly  forewent  iiis 
cherished  i«lea  of  contemplative  leisure  and  devoted 
himself  to  the  law.  In  loSO  he  became^  a  student  of 
Gray's  Inti.  <..  die  "  Ancients  "of  whicli  he  was  ah(\'idy 
a  member;  a  few  years  later  he  was  called  to  the 
bench;  in  loSO  he  became  an  inner  barrister:  and 
at  thirty  was  made  Elizabeth's  Queen's  C'omis(>l 
Learned     Ivxtraordinary,     without     salarv.     Duriii-r 


I\TH<)1>1(  TKtN 


Xlll 


this  period  Burleiuh's  lielp  luul  been  slitjlit  enough, 
jukI  was  never  afttn'ward  heartily  accorded  to  the  too 
soheitons  ne])hew. 

Opposed  to  Burlei<ih  and  the  (.Veils  Avas  the  iireat 
power  of  Leicester,  and,  after  his  <leath,  that  of  his 
son-in-law,  Robert  Devereiix.  Lord  Lssex.  The 
eharaeters  of  all  men  are  suilieiently  complex  and 
self-contradictory  to  make  precise  analysis  iniju^ssihle. 
even  for  the  ps>'choloi!;ist,  and  Kssex,  like  L^acon 
himself,  sometimes  puz/les  the  l)ioiira{)her.  He  was 
a  gentleman,  a  scholar,  a  soldier,  a  diplomat,  a  gallant. 
Before  all,  he  was  Ivssex,  —  the  lovable,  impulsive 
autocrat  of  his  own  fortunes,  and  the  generous 
comrade;  of  Elizabeth's  l)est  imao;inin<is.  His  was  a 
spirit  not  made  for  crookinj»-  the  prejiiiant  hinges  of 
tlie  knee.  He  better  liked  to  try  the  mettle  of  horse 
and  foe,  to  challenge  when  her  mood  allowed  th.e  pride 
and  will  of  P'.lizabeth  herself,  to  turn  her  buffets  into 
rewards,  to  cry  scorn  u})on  his  enemies,  and  ardently 
to  serve  his  friends.  And  he  had  many  of  both  orders, 
himself,  at  least  from  the  prudential  viewj)oint,  too 
often  numbered  among  the  former.  Of  his  friends 
Mr.  Francis  Bacon  was  very  near  him.  the  struggling 
young  lawyer  and  philosopher  who  with  his  bi'other 
Anthony  had  early  chosen  to  follow  Kssex's  fortunes. 
Bacon  nnist  have  felt  the  charm  of  that  line  personal- 
ity, must  indeed  have  loved  Essex  as  he  could  never 
have  loved  the  (  ecils,  though  to  them  he  still  continued 
to  apply  for  advancement.  Xot  quite  unsuccessfully, 
for  though  Sir  Robert  seems  to  have  considered  him 


XIV 


lyTUODUVTIOX 


"a  speculative  man  indulging  hi-i^self  in  philosophical 
reveries,  and  calculated  more  to  perplex  than  to 
promote  public  business,"  yet  the  reversion  of  the 
liegistrarship  of  the  Star  (,'hamf)er  was  now  bestowed 
upon  him,  a  position  assuring  a  good  income,  but  to 
which,  unfortunately,  Bacon  did  not  actually  attain 
until  twenty  years  afterward. 

His  condition,  therefore,  remained  much  in  need  of 
improvement,  and  it  nuist  be  said  that  his  indepen- 
dent activity  as  the  young  member  of  Parliament  for 
Midillesex  in  1592  did  not  tend  to  modify  Elizabeth's 
opinion  of  his  "unsuitableness"  as  a  public  servant. 
There  was  in  Bacon,  indeed,  a  strain  of  inquir\',  of 
large  tolerance  for  truth,  of  catholic  reasonableness, 
that  made  it  hard  for  him  to  sup})ort  ai  any  time  the 
character  of  a  strictly  limited  servant  and  partisan 
in  social  or  political  affairs.  For  more  than  one 
reason,  tluMi,  we  cannot  feel  mucli  surprise  at  his  failure 
to  secure  the  Attorney-deneral's  place,  when  it  became 
vacant  in  loJ)^,  notwithstanding  his  persistent  can- 
didacy and  I'ksex's  cordial,  ev(m  eager,  support.  In 
April,  1594,  his  rival.  Sir  Edward  Coke,  was  given  the 
place,  and  the  disappointed  suitor,  after  some  petu- 
lance, pn^ssed  for  the  Solicitorship.  This  also  he 
failed  to  obtain,  after  eighteen  months  of  struggle. 
I^lizabeth  seemed  to  resent  Essex's  bold  pleading  for 
his  friend,  and  Coke  and  the  Lord  Kee))er  Puckering 
strongly  ()ppos(>d  Bacon's  claims.  In  a  letter  on  the 
result,  written  to  l-'ulke  (Jreville.  Bacon  manifests 
a   fecliiit'  ot   sharp  regret,   almost  of  shame:    ''And 


INTRODUCTION 


XV 


what  though  the  Muster  of  the  Rolls,  and  my  Lord 
of  EsstX;  and  yourself,  and  others,  think  my  case 
without  doubt,  yet  in  the  meantime  I  have  a  hard 
condition,  to  stand  so  that  whatsoever  service  I  do 
to  Her  Majesty,  it  shall  he  thought  to  he  but  serm'tium 
vtHcatutn,  lime-twigs  and  fetches  to  place  myself;  and 
so  1  shall  have  envy,  not  thanks.  This  is  a  course  to 
quench  all  good  spirits,  and  to  corrupt  every  man's 
n.'iture.  .  .  .  For  to  l)e,  as  I  told  you,  like  a  child 
following  a  bird,  which  when  he  is  nearest  flieth  away 
and  lighteth  a  little  before,  and  then  the  hild  after 
ii  again,  and  so  in  infinidnn,  I  am  weary  of  it,  as  also 
of  wearying  my  good  friends." 

Hut  one  good  friend  was  not  to  be  wearied.  Ks."\\, 
fe(>ling  keenly  the  blight  that  had  come  upon  Bacon's 
prospects,  and  his  own  difficult  position  as  unsuccess- 
ful mediator,  undertook  to  relieve  the  situation  in 
some  measure  by  the  gift  of  a  handsome  estate  at 
Twickenham,  worth  about  £1,S00,  which  was  grate- 
fully accepted  })y  his  beneficiary.  l*:ssex  was  also 
b(>hind  Bacon's  addresses  to  l.acly  Hatton,  the  rich 
widow  of  Sir  William  Hatton  and  daughter  of  Sir 
Thomas  Cecil;  but  his  warm  espousal  by  letter  of  his 
friend's  cause  appears  to  have  had  as  little  influence 
with  the  perverse  widow  as  the  presence  and  dignity 
of  Jiacon  himself,  who  was  defeated  in  the  lists  of 
love,  as  in  those  of  politics,  by  none  other  than  Coke 
The  Attorney-General  soon  afterward  married  Lady 
Hatton. 

Bacon  now  betook  himself  to  his  pen,  and  sought  to 


VP«P 


XV) 


INTROlirCTloy 


execute  work  planned  for  earlier  fruition.  In  1590 
he  completed  a  treatise  upon  the  connnou  law,  which 
remained  unpubhshed  during  his  lifetime;  and  J!) 
the  following  year  he  put  out  the  first  edition  of 
the  Essays,  then  numbering  ten,  with  **  Religious 
Meditations"  and  "  Of  the  Colours  of  Good  and  Evil.  " 
During  these  two  years  appeared  also  the  last  three 
Books  of  Spenser's  Faerie  Qiieene  and  Shakespeare's 
Romeo  and  Juliet  and  The  Merchant  of  Venice. 
Two  other  slowly  expanding  editions  of  the  Essai/s 
were  published  before  Bacon's  death,  until  in  16i?o 
the  original  ten  had  become  fifty-eight.  Other  liter- 
ary tasks  beguiled  this  early  disappointment,  and  \\\o 
man  of  letters  was  kept  busy  also  as  lawyer  and 
parliamentarian. 

Essex's  growing  popularity,  after  his  return  from 
the  capture  of  Cadiz  in  1596,  sometimes  gratified  and 
soinetimes  anirered  the  Queen,  for  whom  her  favourite 
contimied  to  show  a  regard  too  self-reliant  for  his  own 
ultimate  good.  It  is  interesting  to  notice  Bacon's 
friendly  iji.t  assiduous  remonstrances  with  I^s'^ex 
in  this  respect,  remonstrances  receive  1  always  gocd- 
temperedly.  but  slightly  and  seldom  heeded.'  In  one 
of  his  Apophthegms  Bacon  tells  us  that  "Aristip- 
pus  was  earnest  suitor  to  Dionysius  for  somewhat, 
who  would  give  no  ear  to  his  suit.  Aristippus  fell 
at  his  feet,  and  then  Dionysius  graated  it.  One  that 
stood  by  said  afterwards  to  Aristippus.  'You  a 
philosopher,  and  to  })o  so  base  as  to  tln-ow  xoursdf 
at    the    tyrant's    feet    to    u'et    a    suit!'     Aristippus 


mmSSSm 


wmmmmm 


IXTROIUXTION 


XV 11 


answered,  'The  fault  is  not  mine,  but  the  fault  is  in 
DionysiuS;  that  carries  his  ears  in  his  feet. '  "  This 
little  story  reflects  light,  in  its  way,  upon  the  charac- 
ters of  both  Bacon  and  Essex,  the  latter  of  whom 
"  had  a  settled  opinion,"  says  Bacon,  "  that  the  Queen 
could  be  brousjht  to  nothing  but  by  a  kind  of  necessity 
and  authority."  Certainly,  Essex  easily  realized  his 
unfortunate  desire  in  1599,  when  he  chose  and  was 
appointed  to  go  as  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland  to 
crush  Tyrone's  rebellion  in  that  troublous  land. 
There  is  something  of  conflict  between  Bacon's 
Apology,  published  early  in  the  reign  of  James  L, 
and  his  letters  written  to  Essex  at  this  time.  In  the 
former  he  asserts  that  "I  did  not  only  dissuade, 
but  protest  against  his  going,"  because  "I  did  as 
plainly  see  his  overthrow  chained,  as  it  were  by 
destiny,  to  that  journey,  as  it  is  possible  for  a  man 
to  ground  a  judgment  upon  future  contingents. "  In 
the  latter  "some  good  spirit  led  his  pen  to  presage 
to  his  Lordship  success."  The  truth  would  seem 
to  be  that  Bacon  entertained  for  his  friend  both 
hope  nnd  "  and  that  after  Essex's  failure  his  fear 
loomed  n.  •  .argely  in  '  is  memory  than  liis  hope. 
For  failure  cam,e,  and  Essex,  lacking  the  patience 
and  skill  of  an  organizing  general  in  a  vexatious 
campaign,  returned  suddenly  to  the  Court,  at  Non- 
such, and  though  at  first  received  with  surprised 
pleasure  by  Elizabeth,  soon  felt  her  coldness  as  willing 
tongues  wagged  against  him  and  his  proceedings, 
alleging  j)olitical  intrigue  as  well  as  miserable  con- 


Bimpip 


wm 


mm 


XVIU 


INTRdhUcriON' 


(liiot of  an  iin])()rtant  niiliturv  ontorpriso.  "He  was 
treated,"  says  C'luirrli.  "as  a  eat  treats  a  mouse; 
he  was  worried,  eoiifiiuul.  dis'n'aeed,  ])ul)liely  repri- 
manded, brought  just  within  ver<j:e  of  the  eliarge  of 
treason,  but  not  (juite,  just  enou«!jh  to  discredit  and 
alarm  liini,  but  to  leave  him  still  a  certain  amount  of 
play.  He  was  made  to  s(^e  that  the  (Queen's  favour 
was  not  (juite  hopeless;  but  that  nothing  ])ut  the  most 
absolute  and  umvserved  humiliation  eould  rr-rovcr  it. 
It  was  })lain  to  any  o\i^  who  knew  J^ssex  that  this 
treatment  would  drive  him  to  madness." 

The  eloek  was  soon  to  strike  twelve  for  the  har;ied 
man.  Incjuirv  and  prosecution,  despite  Elizabeth's 
old  attachment  to  him,  wei'e  becoming  dangerously 
like  persecution,  and  the  first  or  Star  Chamber  session, 
from  v.liich  lOssex  was  kept  away,  Served  only  to 
kindle  the  hostility  of  his  enemies  and  the  appre- 
hension of  his  friends.  Against  this  action  Hacon 
justly  protested,  and  at  length  [H'evailed  on  Elizabeth 
"that  the  matter  should  be  heard  at  York  House, 
before  an  assembly  of  councillors,  peei's,  and  judges, 
and  some  audi(Mice  of  men  of  (|uality  to  be  admitted.  " 
In  this  "Corrective"  trial  Bacon  was  assigned  a  legidly 
unimportant  part,  which  he  acce])te<l  with  regret  and 
misgiving,  and  yet  with  the  sense  of  obligation  to  the 
(^ueen,  for  whom  he  entertained  a  real  regard,  and  in 
the  hope  that  his  own  loyalty  might  not  be  without, 
value  as  affecting  the  welfare  of  his  friend.  It  is 
certain  that  he  made  frequent  intercession  for  Essex, 
and    sought    constantly    to    redeem   hini    from    the 


INTR01>U(  Tioy 


XIX 


Queen's  displeasure.  We  must  not  be  too  (juick  to 
condemn  the  apparent  ingratitude  of  Bacon  to 
Essex  in  appearing  against  him.  It  is  less  reprehen- 
sible to  err  on  the  generous  side  than  to  censure  a 
whit  beyond  the  just  and  certain  limit.  These 
questions  are  necessary:  Had  Bacon  two  loyalties 
to  observe?  Which,  in  Elizabeth's  day,  would  bo 
accounted  the  greater?  Did  PIssex  deserve  castiga- 
tion?  Were  liacon's  motives  pure,  or  mixed?  If 
mixed,  is  he  wholly  blameworthy?  ])id  he  truly 
desire  to  save  his  friend  both  from  his  enemies  and 
from  himself? 

To  the  last  question  Essex,  for  his  part,  would  seem 
willing  to  respond  in  Bacon's  favour.  After  a  mild 
sentence  had  been  pronounced  Bacon  still  sought 
full  clemency  from  Elizabeth,  and  unmoved  by  the 
slanders  with  which  many  were  now  besmirching  his 
own  good  name  he  continued  ardently  to  sue  for 
Essex's  immediate  liberation  from  unhappiness  and 
gloom,  and  would' doubtless  have  succeeded  were  it 
not  for  recurring  causes  of  suspicion  carefully  instilled 
into  Elizabeth's  mind,  and  therein  nurtured,  li'icon 
still  followed  what  he  thought  was  the  safest  way,  the 
path  of  indirection,  and  having  composed  a  corre- 
spondence between  his  brother  Anthony  and  Essex, 
in  a  manner  to  please  the  Queen,  submitted  it  to  her. 

These  were  only  half-lights,  however,  like  so  many 
other  devices  of  Elizabeth's  court  and  society.  In- 
deed, as  Bacon  the  essayist  tells  us,  "dissinnilntion  is 
but  a  faint  kind  of  policy,  or  wisdom.     For  it  askcth 


XX 


ixTRODrcrioy 


a  strong  wit  and  a  strong  heart  to  know  when  to  tell 
trui-h,  and  to  do  it.  Tlierefore  it  is  tlie  weaker  sort 
of  politicians  that  are  the  greatest  dissemblers." 
Yet  the  letters  had  their  value,  and  so  had  Bacon's 
many  conversations  with  the  Queen,  who  in  August, 
1()()0,  set  her  former  favourite  at  liberty.  He  retired 
shortly  to  tlie  country,  hoping  for  a  c(,.nplete  restora- 
tion to  power,  but  the  test  he  made  of  Elizabeth's 
intention  was  not  a  happy  one.  A  T)atent  he  possessed 
for  the  monopoly  of  sweet  wines,  which  had  brought 
him  a  large  income,  was  now  about  to  ex))ire,  and 
Essex  sued  rather  too  directly  for  its  renewal.  This 
was  refused  and  Ehzai)eth's  disfavour  was  increased, 
directing  itself  also  toward  Bact)n,  as  his  representa- 
tions on  behalf  of  his  friend  became,  in  the  Queen's 
view,  unduly  urgent.  Essex,  deeply  stirred  by  this 
])etulant  denial  of  his  claim,  impulsively  decided  to 
carrv  out  the  id(vi  of  a  demonstration,  alreadv 
conceived;  and  reo})ening,  as  is  alleged,  negotiations 
with  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  intriguing  with  both 
Puritan  and  Catholic,  he  marched  with  a  few  armed 
men  uj)on  F.oiidon,  and  threw  himself  recklessly  into 
the  hands  of  is  fate.  It  is  difficult  to  credit  his 
defence  "that  mere  was  a  plot  against  his  life;  that 
some  were  suborncMl  to  stab  him  in  his  bed;  that  he 
and  his  friends  were  treacherously  dealt  with,  and  that 
they  were  detorminctl  on  resistance,"  and  equally 
difficult  to  believe  that  he  seriously  relied  on  the 
willingness  of  Londoners  to  ris(>  in  his  behalf.  Rather, 
it  would  app(>ar,  tired  oi'  contimiely  and  of  an  irksome 


ixriKtincrKtx 


XXI 


siibniis.^1011  that  .lid  not  report  him  and  his  c-auK' 
aright,  ho  cast  <1..\vm  i  he  ,ua,<v«'  witii  hauiihtv  passion, 
with  sonu'thin-  of  that  lieroic  spirit  that  loads  a 
soldier  to  seek  a  soldier's  end,  to  linisii  his  life,  as  ho 
had  lived  it,  on  the  high  terms  of  pride  and  determi- 
nation. If  apparent  failure  were  sure,  even  in  that 
lailure  he  saw  sueeess.  I^ssex.  at  least,  was  straitened 
until  his  purpose  was  accomplished. 

While  the  ''rebel"  lay  imprisoned  in  the  Tower, 
evidence  against  him  rapidly  accumulated,  and  his 
lormal  guilt  was  plainly  established.  On  February 
19,  1001,  he  was  brought  to  trial  ami  admitted 
his  overt  act  of  treason,  but  scornfullv  rejected  the 
interiH-etation  placed  upon  it  by  his  accusers.  His 
attitude  was  firm  antl  noble,  and  he  showed  to  better 
advantage  than  Jiacon,  who  was  ordered  to  assist 
m  the  prosecution. 

The  course  of  the  relationship  between  these  two 
men  had  now  reached  a  dramatic  climax.  Bacon's 
presence  and  participation  during  the  trial  do  not 
immediately  win  our  api)r()val,  yet  there  is  no  room  for 
doubt  that  he  laboured  faithfully  to  the  last  to  save 
his  friend,  and  did  not  cease  his  efforts  until  Essex 
had  suffered  the  extreme  penalty,  February  25, 
1601.  After  the  fatal  event  and  by  order  of  l":iizabeth', 
he  set  forth  an  official  declaration  of  the  treasons  of 
Essex  ill  a  form  so  mild  rliat  he  was  sharply  rebuked 
aiul  thorough  revision  was  made  by  other  hands. 

Two  years  after  the  execution  of  the  man  she  had 
so  highly  honoured  and  so  deeply  humiliated,  Ehza- 


\xn 


JXTRf/DirriOX 


])otli,  wlioso  lioalth  ami  spirits  had  thereafter  eon- 
timiallv  dec'lhiod,  i)ass('(l  out  of  England's  Ufe,  and 
Bacon's,  March  24,  10U3. 

With  l':Hzal)oth  passed  the  Tudors  and  the  Tudor 
relation  between  hold  and  able  sovereigns  and  a  re- 
s{)onsive  people.  The  heritage  of  the  English  throne 
now  fell  to  James  Stuart,  only  son  of  .Mary  Stuart, 
(^ueen  of  Scots,  who  was  already  ruling  Scotland 
as  James  \I.  Jk'fore  Elizabeth's  death  Cecil  had 
smoothed  down  eveiy  possible  obstacle  to  the  acces- 
sion of  tlie  heir  as  James  I.  of  England,  and  the 
new  reign,  to  last  for  twenty-two  years,  began 
quietly  with  the  arrival  of  James  in  London,  May, 
1603.  The  character  of  this  king  was  ill-suited  to 
grasp  and  govern  the  times.  The  spirit  of  the  Renais- 
sance was  already  decatlent;  Puritanism,  with  its 
Hebraic  '.c  zest  for  conduct  as  the  ])rime  good,  was 
n  rising  tide  in  Englau.l;  and,  if  l)lindly,  yet  no  less 
surely,  Hie  i)opular  heart  was  turning  toward  the 
idea  of  civil  rights  as  the  inevitable  warrant  and  con- 
dition of  religious  liberty.  ]iotli  the  Established 
Church  and  the  J)issenters,  it  is  true,  misdefined 
"  fnv  conscieiice,"  yet  conservative  and  bigot  be- 
came alike  the  lai'gely  unwitting  agents  of  progress 
in  theology  and  statecraft.  James  did  not  see,  or, 
if  he  saw,  did  not  understand,  this  movement  of  the 
time-spirit.  Himself  nurtiu'ed  in  a  wikl  land  where 
might  spelled  right,  a  lirm  believer  in  the  Stuart 
traditions,  clever  and   "read"   without  being  saga- 


mm 


INTRODrVTIOX 


X  X  1 11 


cious,  obstinate  without  being  stronji;,  onibittercd 
by  early  struggles  with  Calvinist  and  deniocrat  with- 
out ever  having  attempted  to  conceive  their  point  of 
view,  he  was  from  the  first  out  of  sympathy  with  the 
English  people,  suspicious  of  Parliament,  and  irri- 
tably fickle  toward  his  i.  .mediate  sup})orters.  He 
was  always  the  Scotch  inlK-ritor,  unada])ted  and  un- 
adaptable, a  stranger  in  a  si  range  land. 

Paradoxical  as  it  may  ap{)ear,  Francis  i^acon,  the 
already  determined  renovator  of  learning  and  founder 
of  a  new  philosophy,  sought  engerly  for  t'  <  favour 
of  James  and  his  court.     He  wrote  to  Lfml  Southamp- 
ton, who,  condemned  with  Kssex,  had  been  r(>lcased 
but  lately  from  the  Tower,    ''1  may  safely  be  that 
to  you  now,  which  1  was  truly  before;"    to  the  J*:arl 
of  Northumberland,   ''If  1  may  be  of  any  use  ^o  your 
Lordship,  by  my  head,  tongue,  })en,  means,  or  friends, 
I  humbly  pray  you  to  hold  me  your  own;"    and  to 
Cecil,  "I  pray  you,  as  you  find  time  \vi  him  know 
that  h.   is  the  personage  in  the  State  which  I  love 
most."     Mistaken  as  his  motive  may  s(>em  to  have 
been,  it  was  fn  honourable  one.     His  des'rc  [i  serve 
James   locally    was    conditioner!    precisely    upon    his 
desire  to  serve  humanity  universally.     Tliat  a  human 
being,    limited,    finite,    matter-bound,    can    achieve 
high  success  in  pure  scholarship,  intellectuiil  leader- 
ship,   and    political    office    alike,    Jkcon    evidently 
believed  possible,  and,  in  Iv'-  case,  even  necessary. 
Place  and  power,  he  felt,  must  })ecome  the  command- 
ing platform  from  which  his  voice  should  carry  con- 


^ww 


XXIV 


lMlit)r>l(  TIOX 


viction  to  worldly  and  unworldly,  fin  unreslricted 
audience.  In  a  note  t'oncernin<r  himself  attached 
in  Latin  Ms.  to  his  treatise  on  th(>  "  Interj)retatioi; 
of  Nature,''  and  translated  by  his  admirable  if  too 
partial  biographer.  James  S])edding,  he  declares  that 
he  finds  himself  fitted  for  m^thing  so  well  as  for  the 
study  of  truth;  '*as  having  n  mind  nimble  and  ver- 
satile enough  to  catch  the  resemblances  of  things  .  .  . 
and  at  the  same  time  stead}'  enough  to  fix  and  dis- 
tinguish their  subtler  differences;  as  being  gifted  by 
nature  with  desire  to  seek,  j)atience  to  doubt,  fond- 
ness to  meditate,  slowness  to  assert,  readiness  to 
reconsider,  careful ''-ss  to  dispose  and  set  in  order; 
and  as  being  a  man  that  neither  affects  what  is  new 
nor  admires  what  is  old,  and  that  hates  every  kind 
of  imposture."  Because,  howe\er,  of  early  training; 
and  because  of  an  instinctive  patriotism;  "and  be- 
cause I  ho{)ed  that,  if  I  rose  to  any  place  of  honour 
in  the  State,  I  should  have  a  larger  command  of  in- 
dustry and  ability  to  help  me  in  my  work;  for  these 
reasons  I  both  applied  myself  to  acquire  the  arts  of 
civil  life,  and  commended  my  service,  so  far  as  in 
modesty  and  honesty  I  might,  to  the  favour  of  such 
friends  as  had  any  influence.  In  which  also  I  had 
another  motive:  for  I  felt  that  those  things  I  have 
?  '-en  of  —  be  they  great  or  small  —  reach  no  further 
.  n  he  condition  and  culture  of  this  mortal  life;  and 
I  was  not  without  hope  .  .  .  that  if  I  came  to  hoki 
office  in  the  State.  I  might  get  something  done  too 
for  the  siood  of  m^n's  souls." 


ixmojucTioy 


XXV 


Xo  one  can  read  these  words  and  ilouht  their  sin- 
rerity.     If  Jiaeon's  politieal  life  seem  to  us  of  to-day 
a  serious  waste  of  effort,  it  did  not  at  least  so  appear 
to  Bacon,  or  even  to  those  few  intimate  friends  who 
knew  somethiiig  of  his  deeper  life.     Rank,  fortune, 
power,    property  — all    tliese,    he    thought,    might 
serve  variously  as  jjrops,  or  even  as  ballast,  to  the 
life  of  the  nnn-in-himself;    and   it   is  not   singular, 
therefore,  that,  thus  thinking,  lie  was  able  at  last^ 
when  stripped  of  these  accessories,  still  to  face  the 
future  with  equanimity  of  soul.     If  he  felt  too  strongly 
that  he  could  spare  nothing,  that  he  nmst  convert 
all  things  into  aids,  he  neverthel(\ss  was  able  to  dis- 
criminate between  aid  and  aim.     He  beli.  ved  him- 
self wise  enough  and  strong  enough  to  handle  for 
noble  ends  tools  whose  knack  or  trick  lesser  men  than 
he  knew  much  better.     For  a  time  he  almost  suc- 
ceeded, but  at  last  ''affairs"  ruined  him.     He  "fell," 
and  yet  in  that  very  catastrophe  we  can  see  the  seeds 
ot  his  ultimate  recognition  as  a  statesman  who  strove 
honestly  to  understand  and  elevate  the  life  of  his 
country.     He  had  to  contend  with  personal  enmity 
and  vague  popular  discontent  on  the  one  hand,  and 
with  a  crass  absolutism  on  the  other.     When  he  saw 
himself    tactically    outflanked    and    surrounded,    he 
yielded  perforce,  yet  it  is  incredible  that  he  felt  his 
surrender  to  be  an  ineffaceable  disgrace,  as  a  mere 
opportunist  must  have  done. 

James  summoned  his  first  Parliament  March   19, 
1604,  and  Bacon,  as  a  Commoner  for  the  borough  of 


^^^,j  ixruonrcTioy 

ln.wi,-l..l>o«.MK.  =UK.Hiv,.  s,».ak..r  aiul  eommittepman. 
T  ■"       rli.n,..>,t  atta.k-a,  -Mu.;.^  oth...-     unp,  m,. 
,     ,,1,..    al.us..s  of  tlu.  ICNoho,,,.,.,-,  and  the  bunlen- 
r.e.     "f    .•.munissa,-i.-s'    cnurts.     So    aecep  al,  y 
Ba,-oa  pnHocl  in  tl„..o  n.atters    acceptably  to 
o  1,  House  an.l  Kin...  .l-t  l>o  shortly  becan.e  Jame.  s 
.^1.    ie.!  Conn-^ol  U^arned  in  the  Law,  and  was  granted 
;  p-nsion.     Keen  in  debate,  fertile  u,  resource,  re- 
:  ;"    nlly  <-on<.iliaU,ry  towar.l  James,  ho  was  at  th.s 
,    „,  „,„    thronRhont  his  pnblio  career  the  one  ont- 
dins  fif-nnv  who  tried  to  deal  generously  w,th 
i.  .    .n,l  ,KM>plo,  serving  both  as  his  moral  outlook 
^d   political  U'-ity  «"gSoste<l,  in  the  sp.nt  of.  a 
; ,    ,  .r-s..rvanl,  tor  "he  had,"  says  X.chol,  "as  pro- 
n,d  a  .lisbelief  as  Cariyle  had  \n  onr  own  age  in 
,    ,„|l,,.,iv,.    wisdo.n    of    individual    ignorances. 
,.„„,..  soon  learned  to  respect  and  value  such  a  com- 
,t,ati.>n  of  skilled  talent  with  int..gnty  oi  purpose, 
.„„1  .ave  him  divers  commissions,  among  them  the 
;,,,,paration   of  a   basis  for   the  propo.sed   union  of 
I-'iuHmikI  niul  Scotland. 

Vn  i,:'  tlie  meeting  of  the  next  Parliament,  Bacon 
,,,dressed  himself  pretty  steadily  to  letU-rs,  WTit.ng 
,  H..,nv  Saville,  Provost  of  i'lton,  on  Hel,«  to  the 
„..llectnal  I'owers."  and  to  Chancellor  KUesmere 
„„  the  importance  of  making  possible  the  produe- 
,i„„  of  an  impartial  and  well-proportioned  History 
„f  Britain,  a  task  he  confessed  to  be  congenial  to  him- 
.olf  but  of  which  he  was  unable  to  attempt  more 
(luili  the  outline.     Of  much  greater  value  are  the 


iNrROhr("rn)X 


XX\  il 


in 


Two  Booki^  of  th(  Adntnrcmrnt  of  Lainilntj.  juil)- 
litiliod  OctolxM-,  160.1,  and  dedicated  to  James,  -- 
a  noble  though  tentative  work,  eoiitaiiiiiiu^  the 
elaborated  results  of  Haeon's  lono-  iii(|uirv  iii?o  tiie 
means  and  effects  of  learnin,ii-.  The  I'irst  liook  pro- 
poses to  discuss  "  the  exeeHency  of  learning-  aud 
knowledge,  and  the  exeelleney  of  "the  merit  and  true 
glory  in  the  augmentation  and  proj)agation  thereof"; 
and  the  Second  Book  'Svhat  the  i)articular  acts  and 
works  are  which  have  been  embraced  and  undertaken 
for  the  advancement  of  learning."  The  ground  bcnng 
cleared  by  the  discussions  of  the  First  Book,  Bacon 
treats  of  the  means  of  k'arning,  as  schools,  books, 
persons;  and  then  boldly  yet  i)atiently  att(>mi)ts 
"to  make  a  general  and  faithful  perambulation  of 
learning,  with  an  incpiiry  what  i)arts  thereof  lie 
fresh  and  waste.  My  j)uri)()se  is  at  this  time  to  note 
only  omissions  and  deficiencies." 

In  November  of  the  same  y(>ar  Parliament  again 
assembled,  and  Bacon's  ambition  for  ])lace  began 
again  to  be  stimulated.  He  a|)plied  to  Lord  Salisbury 
(Robert  (Veil)  for  the  Solicitorship,  in  March,  Hitm. 
As  in  l':iizabeth's  reign,  however,  he  was  not  ap- 
pointed, but  disappointed.  Yet  his  star  was  waxing. 
In  May  he  married  a  well-to-do  and  comel\-  damsel, 
Alice  Barnham,  daughter  of  an  aldernlan,  and, 
though  he  app(>ars  to  have  been  nnich  more  dignified 
than  rf>niantic  in  tliis  affair,  their  life  together  was 
doubt-. oS  not  less  happy  than  that  of  Shakesjieare 
and   Anne   Hathaway.     To   Spenser's   domestic   joy 


'mrr^-\ 


XXVIU 


JSTRitlUCTION 


Hat'oii  (lid  Tiot.  pr()l)al)ly  could  not,  attain,  hut  upon 
('()ke\s  (.'xp('ri(MU'e  ho  decidedly  improved.  Certaiuly, 
the  matrimonial  estate  made  him  both  more  solici- 
tous and  more  successful  in  the  ))ursuit  of  office.  In 
this  year  Coke  ••ave  up  the  Attorneyship  to  become 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Conunon  Pleas,  one  Hobart 
became  the  not  too  able  Attorney,  and  Bacon  looked 
for  the  transfer  of  JJoddridii  .  the  Solicitor,  and  his 
own  elevation  to  that  place.  Owini;  to  hostile  in- 
fluences, howevei".  or  the  uneasy  feeliufi;  that  a  man 
of  Bacon's  forceful  personality  might  not  fit  smoothly 
into  the  machinery  of  the  State,  his  a])pointment  was 
deferred  until  June  25.  1()()7.  His  income  from 
this  office  was  about  £1.000,  and,  all  told,  by  1608, 
with  the  l^euistrarship  of  the  Star  Chamber,  amounted 
to  over  £5,000. 

In  the  Coinmcnlnrlii^  Sohdns,  a  lengthy  private 
memorandum  comi)osed  1)V  Bacon  in  this  latter  year, 
which  reveals  in  the  most  candid  manner  his  little 
prudences  and  f«)ibles  as  well  as  the  higher  aims  of 
his  life,  he  stresses  his  cherished  plan  for  a  reformed 
philosophy  and  his  ideal  of  national  greatness. 
Among  othiM-  matters  he  deals  with  the  Attorney- 
ship and  Hobart 's  ()ccu[)ancy.  He  is  evidently 
determined  to  succeed  Hobart  as  early  as  may  be, 
and  describes  !iim  rath<'r  surprisingly  in  the  margin 
as  a  "solenm  goosi'."  In  order  to  push  his  fortunes, 
this  frank  commentator  made  of  himself  a  particu- 
larly active  Solicitor,  d(>s|)ite  the  routine  duties  of 
the  ofKce,  and   remained   also  a  zealous  member  of 


IMRODVLTl'JX 


XXIX 


the  Commons.  \\v  siip])orted  Salishurv's  ill-starrod 
"Great  Contraot"  i)lau  of  relieviiiii-  the  Kind's  liiiaii- 
C'ial  embarrassment,  by  means  of  which  James  was 
virtually  lo  sell  >mall  fractions  of  the  prerooative. 
in  addition  to  tluvse  can^s  lie  found  time  slowly  to 
evolve  parts  of  his  (treat  In-stduratiou,  to  write  his 
Confession  of  Faith,  and,  in  U)12.  I(»  revise  his  J'Jssai/s. 

In  Kill)  old  J.ady  jiacon  had  passed  away,  and  the 
followinu'  y(>ar  llobart  fell  ill,  K^aviiiii'  Bacon  to  re- 
mind the  Kin«j;  of  his  claims  and  (^xi^ectations.  Th(^ 
Attorney  recovered,  but  Salisbury,  whom  his  cousin 
had  always  found  at  b(\st  a  lukewarm  patron,  died 
May  24,  1612,  and  with  him  faded  the  afterglow  of 
I'^li/.abeth's  lon<2:  reifi'n.  I^acon  wrote  frecpiently  to 
the  Kin^  sup:j2;estinir  improvements  upon  Salislniry's 
policies,  with  himself  as  imi)rover.  and  showed  a 
sjHrit  of  somewhat  mysterious  resentment  atiainst 
his  late  relative*.  James  responded  in  a  measure, 
but  cautiously,  imtil  in  UWA  an  opj^ort unity  occurred 
to  transfer  Coke  to  the  Chief  Justiceshij)  of  the  Kin^i's 
Bench,  promote  llobart  to  the  Connnon  IMeas,  and 
make   Bacon,  October  27,   Attorney-CJeneral. 

Parliament  had  not  met  since  midsununer,  1610,  and 
on  I^jacon's  ur<»ent  advice  was  now  ass(>mbled,  April, 
1614.  Althou^ih.  as  Attorney,  Parliament  decided 
that  l^acon  was  not  (^li^iible  to  r(4ain  membership,  he 
was  mado  a  pcrsiuial  «'\ception  and  giiveti  a  seat  by 
courtesy.  Ih*  soon  showed  his  act-ustomed  activity, 
defending'  as  he  nuiiht  tlu^  royal  prerojiative  atjainsf 
merely   sullen   or    malevolent    attacks,   and    yet    at- 


XXX 


IXTRODrCTIOy 


tompting  to  load  liis  fellow-menibors  into  progressive 
linos  of  policy  and  lo<iislation.  It  was  a  hard  task, 
for  Kin^  and  Parliament  wore  in  reality  two  masters, 
mutually  susj)i('ious  and  quirk  to  take  offence.  In- 
deed, after  Bacon  had  concluded  a  careful  explana- 
tion of  James's  <i;ood  intentions,  he  declared:  "Thus 
have  I  told  you  my  opinion.  1  know  it  had  b"en 
more  safe  and  j)oli{ic  to  have  becMi  silent;  hut  it  is 
more  hon(\st  and  lovin*;;  to  speak.  When  a  man 
speaketh,  he  may  he  wounded  l)y  others;  but  as  he 
holds  his  peace  from  good  things,  he  wounds  him- 
self." The  speecli  was  not  heard  with  acceptance, 
and  the  King,  seeing  no  hope  of  obtaining  supplies, 
dissolved  this  "Addled  I'arliament"  in  June.  He 
tried,  instead,  to  impose  a  tax  of  place  upon  the 
greater  noblemen  and  ofhce-holders,  and  even  upon 
the  lesser  fry,  arousing  mudi  excited  opposition. 
Several  persons  who  dannl  decry  the  plan  were 
brought  to  trial  and  severely  jnmished,  among 
them  Rev.  Kdmund  Peacham,  an  okl  clergyman 
whose  case  has  l)(H'ome  celebrated  in  Bacon  lore, 
owing  to  the  lesort  to  torture.  His  house  having 
b(>en  s(\arched,  a  foolish  sermon  was  found  of  extreme 
l)itterness  and  audacity,  and,  after  a  long  legal  con- 
troversy, he  was  convicted  of  treason,  and  died  in 
Taunton  jail  The  case  was  considered  important 
in  that  P(>acham  was  supposed  to  have  accomplices 
of  higher  station.  As  for  J^acon's  connection  with 
the  affair,  it  was  purely  official,  his  name  not  even 
ai)pearing  on  the  torture  warrant,  and  his  personal 


INTRODUVTION 


XXXI 


dislike   of  such    moans   l)eing    nuule    nmnitVst    in    a 
report  to  James. 

During;  tliis  time  Bacon  wrote  an  admirable  and 
sympathetic  letter  to  (I(H)rge  Villiei-s.  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Robert  Carr,  the  infamous  Karl  of  Somerset, 
as  the  royal  favourite.  The  letter  wai'ns  \'illiers 
against  undue  interference  with  the  judiciary:  "  Jiy 
no  means  be  you  persuaded  to  interpose  yourself  .  .  . 
in  any  cause  depending,  or  like  to  be  dej)ending,  in 
any  court  of  justice,  nor  suffer  any  other  great  man 
to  do  it  where  you  can  hinder  it,  and  by  all  means 
dissuade  the  King  himself  from  it,  uj)on  the  importu- 
nit\'  of  any  for  themselves  or  their  friends;  if  it 
should  prevail,  it  perverts  justice;  but  if  the  judge 
be  so  just,  and  of  such  courage,  as  he  ought  to  be, 
as  not  to  be  inclined  tlKMvby,  yet  it  always  leaves  a 
taint  of  suspicion  behind  it;  judges  nuist  be  as  chaste 
as  Ca\sar's  wife,  neither  to  be,  nor  to  l)e  suspected 
to  be  unjust;  antl,  sir,  the  honour  of  tlie  judges  in 
their  judicature  is  the  King's  honour,  whose  person 
they  represent."  So  keenly  did  H-tcon  feel  the 
sanctity  of  the  law  that  he  continued  (O  seek  its  hn- 
provement  through  codification;  but  in  vain,  owing 
to  the  opposition  (>f  Coke  and  the  indifference  of  the 
King. 

George  Villiers,  the  recipient  of  tlu  ^etter  referred 
to,  who  afterward  became  Duke  of  Buckingham,  was 
a  brilliant,  astute,  handsome,  agreea))le,  but  largely 
selfish  and  conscienceless  man.  In  1613  he  entered 
the  King's  household  and  rose  ra})idl\-  to  the  Duke- 


XXXll 


iM'Hohic  riity 


dinn,  bestowod  <,n  l.im  two  ^•oars  \-Mov.     Bamn  had 
shown    httU'    interest    in    SonuTset.    or    expectation 
Ironi   hnn.    l.ut    l)(>tvveeii    hin.self   ami    \  illiers    tliere 
alreiuiy  existed   an  easy  IVi(Mulshii)   thai    wore  well 
as  tlie  years  pass(>d  and  each  proved  of  marked  assist- 
ance to  tlie  other.     Bacon,  for  liis  par!.  oav(.  \iiii^.,.^ 
plonty  of  so.n.d  advice  tJiat   had  '^on.c  fruition,  and 
Vi  hers  heartily  pushed  his  fri.Mui's  fortunes  at  court 
Cokes    evil    influence    was     nieantinu>     undero-oino- 
steady    reduction,    until    this    uroat     hut    pompous 
Justice  was  at  lenoth  removed  from  office,  Xoveniber 
Iblt),   owing   technically    to   a   dispute   between   his 
court  and  Chancery. 

To  this  Jatter  hav(>n    Bacon  was  now  proceedinir 
under   full    sail.     Kllesmere's    tenure   would    shorth 
f'ease,    and    Bacon  did   not    hesitate   to  inform    the 
King    of    the    inadequacy    of    Coke,     II(,bart,    and 
others,  to  fill  th(>  place,  and  incidentaliv  of  his  own 
strcmg  ho]v.     \\v  was  h(>ard  favourabh'.  and,  as  an 
earnest  of  the  royai  good-will,  was  advanced  to  the 
Invy  Council.      In  a  letter  to  \  illiers  acknowlc.dging 
tlu'  promise  of  the  Chancellorship,  he  uses  the  patheti- 
cally predictive   u'ords:    'I  am  ^ours  surer  to  vou 
tlian  my  own  lih^     Jor.  as  then-  speak  of  the  Tur- 
quoise stone  in  a  ring,  I  will  Im-ak  into  twentv  pieces 
belore  you  bear  tlK>  least  fall."     On  Afarch  :^    1617 
lie  became  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Cirear  Seal    and  as^ 
sumed  his  new  rank  on  May   7  with  mairnificence. 
In  addressing  tlie  bar  (,n  that  occasion,  he  spoke  with 
IH'^-uiiar  power  and  wisdom  concerning  the  judici-d 


jgH 


JXrifODl  <T10X 


XXXIU 


(Spirit  and  iiiotliod,  aiul  dealt  plainly  with  pn^vailiiij:; 
habits  of  ('()rruj)tioii.  January.  ItilS.  saw  hitn  ad- 
vanced to  the  full  dignity  of  Lord  Chancollor.  Six 
months  later  he  Axas  made  a  peer,  aiul  thereafter,  tirst, 
Baron  Wrulani,  and  th(Mi  \'iseount  St.  Alhans. 

liacon   had   now   reached    the   hei,iiht    of  his  social 
desire  and  jiolitical  fortune,  throuiih  "favoin".  oj)por- 
tunity,  death  of  oIIum's,"  and  also  throuuh  "occasion 
fittin.u:  virtue,"  for   he  was  amon^-  the  l)est-e(piipped 
and  best-intent ioned  chancellors  in  {''.n.Jiland's  annals. 
Financially,  he  suffered  loss  through  the  rc^liiuiuish- 
inji:  of  his  minor  lucrative  oflices,  and  the  difference 
in  his  income  was  not  made  up  by  the  receij)ts  from 
fees  and  ^'ifts.     Of  the  latter  there  were  always  many, 
not  only  hi  Bacon's  experience,  but   in  that  of  the 
high  world  in  jieneral,  from  monarch  to  statesmen 
and  officers,   including;   the  judiciary.     Tlu>   practice 
was  general  becaus(>  it  was  traditional,  and  only  now 
was    a   rational    antagonism    to    it    slowly    ass(U'ting 
itself,  most  notably  in  France.     Of  Bacon's  hard  work 
and  just  judgments  as  Chancellor  there  is  the  most 
ample  evidence;   of  his  fre(|uent  receipt  of  money  and 
presents   from   litigants,   though    very    rarely   during 
t^ial,  arid  of  his  complaisant  though  never  criminal 
susceptibility  to  Buckingham's  iiiHuence,  then-  is  also 
evidence,  to  s]iare. 

Each  day,  however,  in  tlse  Couit  of  Chancery,  a 
day's  work  was  done.  an(i  envy  of  the  Chancellor  had 
scant  foothold  save  for  thc^  "mistake"  which  I^acon 
made  in  opposing  the  marriage  of  Coke's  ilaughter 


J 


pane! 


■p«p 


npffp 


XXXI V 


IXTRODVCTIOX 


to  Sir  John  Millers,  a  younger  ;  rothor  of  Hurkin^- 
ham.     Jiaroii    th()u,i>ht    he   saw    in    this    proposal    a 
schonio  to  restore  (  oke  to  the  Kind's  favour  and  to 
ooni})roinise  Buckinojhain's  politieal  infiuoneo.     Ladv 
Hatton,  the  ^rji-I's  mother,  who  had  suffered  violence 
in    protect  in-    her    dau-litor    from    (\)ko's    minions 
appealed,  not  in  vain,  to   Bacon,  who  removed  the 
.youn^^  woman  to  impartial  custodv,  wrote  to  Buck- 
m^rhani    for   support,    and    induced    the   Council    to 
try  Coke    for  riotous  conduct,     rnfortunatelv,    the 
(  hancf.llor  had  reckoned  without  his  host,  or,  rather 
his  sov.Mvi-n.  lately  absent  in  Scotland,  who  zealouslv 
endorsed    the   match   and   reprimanded    his   too  offi- 
cious   serwmt.     Buckinoham,    too,    turned    sharply 
upon   Bacon,  whose  conduct  had  been,  even  if  dis- 
I)loas,no-.  honest  and  faithful,  and  who  was  now  con- 
strained   to    seek    a    reconciliation.     The    marriage 
took  place,  (\)ke  came  back  to  his  seat  at  the  council 
table,  and  Buckingham  «renerouslv  for^rave  his  friend 
r  us  meant  even  less  freedom  for  Bacon  tliereafter' 
who  showed  himself  indeed  in  Uie  trials  of  RaleiLd/ 
the    Lord   Treasurer   Suffolk,    and   former   Attornev 
\elverton.  thouo-h  an  equitable  lawyer  vet  conscious 
ot   the  (rown   lal)ol  and  constraint.     "I  know,"   he 
said,  "thes(^  thiiios  do  iu)t  pertain  to  me;    for  my 
part  IS  to  acjuit  the   Kin-'s  office  towards  God,  in 
the  maintenance  of  the   prerogative,   and   to  oblige 
the  hearts  of  the  p<H,ple  to  him  by  the  administra- 
tion of  justiee."     In   his  capacity  as   Keeper  of  the 
Seal,   how(.ver,   though   he   was  made   eonstantlv   to 


TXTh'fiDrcriox 


XXXV 


f(>('l  tiic  Kiiiii's  need  of  money,  lie  exercised  inarke(l 
coiiservatisiii  in  passiiij;-  <iJ-aiits  and  IVaiichises. 

This  incident  of  the  niarriaiie  was  tlie  crisis  or  turn- 
in<i-j)oint  of  liacon's  career.  Powerful.  w<'ahhy,  and 
exahed;  master  of  a  fine  (-state  at  (lorhambnry  and 
of  his  old  hjrthi)hice,  York  House;  ah-eady  rec()<rnized 
hv  sundry  thouiih-tful  judges  as  ,i!;reatest  of  tlie  plii- 
losophers  of  lMi<2;huid,  —  and  tiieir  opinion  was  more 
than  justified  by  the  appearance  of  the  Novum 
On/anum  iiicw  montlis  hiter,  —  lie  passed  his  sixtieth 
birthday,  January  22.  1()2(),  in  peaceful  s|)len(l()ur. 
Hardly  more  than  a  year  later  he  had  fallen  into  an 
ai)parently  all-en^ulfintj:  disgrace. 

To  understand  tliis  astonishin*;  reversal  of  liis 
life's  direction,  wo  must  bear  steadily  in  mind  three 
considerations:  first,  the  certain  tendency  of  civ- 
ilized p(H)])les  to  correct  seen  evils,  which  tendency 
is  itself  a  test  of  civilization;  second.  Bacon's 
peculiarly  close  relations  with  James  and  Bucking- 
ham; third.  Bacon's  superior  mentality,  which  en- 
abled him  to  see  —  with  heart-sinkin*;:;  —  the  fatal 
thoii<i;h  superficial  Haws  in  any  possible  ilefence,  and 
to  anticipate  the  catastrophe  into  which  both  official 
Mn<i;land  and  ])opular  Hn<iland,  as  agents  of  his  in- 
(^xoral)le  fate,  were  inevitably  to  pursue  him. 

The  facts,  of  which  but  a  brief  recital  will  be 
necessary,  are  as  follows.  Upon  the  lon^-deferred 
summoninfi  of  Parliament  in  1621,  a  Parliament  which 
opent^l  quietly  Init  inherited  the  aninuis  of  its  prede- 
cessors in  regard  to  public  abuses  and  the  attitude 


XXX  vi 


i.\ri:(iin'<rj()S 


of  tlie  Crown  toward   public  liol.ts.  ,,   woll-dirocted 
attack  upon  the  rapacity  of  certain  of  Huckin^hum's 
creatures  resulted  in  the  imprisonment  of  Sir  Francis 
Micliell  and  tlie  fliohf  of  Sir  ( iil(>s  Mompesson.     These 
men  had  blacknurlcHJ  silk  merchants,  ^oldsmitlis.  and 
others,    iorcin-    H      ,    u>    pay    extortionate    ivvr^   for 
patents,  or  to  -no  up  Inisiness,  or  even  sulfer  arrest 
Ihe  monopoly  system  had  luronK"  so   arro-ant   and 
so  econonucally  aiM  .^thjcallv  destructive  that  Par- 
liament, ma.le  ea-er  l,y  iis  brief  exploration  of  the 
flooded  current,  be^an  to  look  hiuhcr  for  the  source 
or    .ources      It     was    discovere.l     that    Christopher 
\ilhers  and.  especially,  Sir  K(hvard  \illiers.  Bucking- 
hams    broth(<rs.    were   anion-   these  sources,   and   a 
quickly  echoed   outcry   arose   a^^ainst   corruption   in 
tlie  seats  of  thf>   mighty.     Jaiiu-s   and   Buckingham 
becam(>  hrst  uneasy,  and  finallv  alarmed.     JiuckinL- 
ham,  })ar(icularly,  f,>arin,o:  his  own  future,  made  haste 
o  consult  not  the  essc.itially  just-minded  Bacon,  but 
\\  ilhanis,  tluMi  Dean  of  Westminster,  a  shrewd  and  able 
man,  who  su--(^ste(l  that  the  Court  would  do  well 
whenevcT    possible,    to    sacrifice    the    lesser    for    the 
greater,  and  that  Sir  Edward   MIHcts.  for  his  part 
should   flee  immediately.  ' 

By  this  time  the  parliamentarv  committees  were 
hard  at  work,  and  one  of  them  had  ventured  to 
glance  at  fhe  i Referees  -  among  whom  the  Lord 
Chancellor  was  numbered  -  who  had  certified  to  the 
abused  patents.  (V>ke.  inveterate  in  pers.Hial  enniitv, 
and  Cranheld.  Master  of  the  Wards,  for  whom  Bacon 


ISTRODICTIOX 


xxxvu 


had  oprnly  shown  his  <HsHk(\  saw  tlioir  opportunity, 
and,  nttcrinfi'  much  sontcntious  wisdom,  insisted  that 
only  a  I'lill  invcstiiration  of  \\\v  (hnvls  .-md  cliaraetors 
of  the  H(>fer('(^s  could  sal  isfy  t  he  ro\  :il  honour.  Bacon 
at  once  rocoiiiiizcd  their  nieaiiiii^",  and  ap]>eal(Ml  to 
James:  "Thos(^  th.al  will  strike  at  your  Chancellor, 
it  is  much  to  he  fearcvl  will  sirik(^  at  your  Crown.  I 
wisli  that  as  I  am  th(>  lirst  1  \\\\\\  he  the  last  of  sac- 
rifices." 'V\\v  Wwvj^  resi)onded  as  he  could,  but  in 
March  a  commiue(>  of  n^form  report(Ml  two  ])etitions 
for  corrupt  ioji  aiiainst  the  Court  of  Chancery.  Almost 
inunediately,  out  of  what  hud  hitiierto  seemed  a 
clear  sky  save  for  "the  passinu  an^er  of  a  shadow," 
the  liohtnings  be,L^•ln  to  dart,  and  Bacon  found  himself 
in  the  han<ls  of  hi-^  (Miemies.  Comit  after  count  was 
brou<2:ht  at-ainst  him,  trivial  as  n(>arly  all  of  them 
were,  until  th(>y  numbereil  eventually  twenty-eight 
formal  articles  of  indicttnent.  The  storm  threw 
Bacon  back  ujion  himself  in  a^;itati(m,  not  of  soul, 
but  certainly  of  mind  and  body,  and  induced  an  illness 
that  prevented  direct  reply.  He  addressed  the  House 
of  Lords,  however,  in  wrinng;,  askino-  for  strict  justice 
and  present  suspensioi:  of  jud^nient.  and  declaring 
his  resolve  to  defend  himself.  The  Lords  answered 
coolly,  and  proceeded  to  examine  the  complaints, 
the  popular  clamour  ])einii-  so  sinister  that  Bacon's 
affectionate  friend.  Sir  Thomas  Meautys,  protested 
against  its  blindness  and  ])itterness:  '"  I  have  known 
and  observed  his  Lordship  for  some  xears:  he  hath 
.sown  a  good  seed  of  justice^;  let  not  the  abandoned 
and  envious  choke  it  with  their  tares." 


-xxxviii 


l.ymoiirrTio.v 


DiinnK    Ivtstrr.    l';,rlinM,<.,i(   st„o,l  a<ijourno,l    and 

Haco,,  prop,„,.,l  l,i,„...|l  luv  ,l,o  ,l.^no„™  on,      OfTc 

v,n,  ,,,,v,.n,...s  „r  ,|„.  ,„la,.k  l„.  had  «ri„,.„  ,(„  ,    ' 

3uek,n,.ha,n:    "  ^  „,„■  ,.„„,shi,,  s„„ko  „f  pn^a  ^r  " 

"»,„„„•„,,,,■   iH.r  my  „,in,l  i.s  in  a  ,.aln  ■   for     v 

fortun,.  ,s  n,„  n,v  f,.|i,.ify.     I  kn„w  I  hav..      j,,    ^^^ 

an.l  a  Hoan  h,.,,,.,,  and  I  l,„p,.  a  ,.],.„,  Imns.  Co   f  ' 

or  sorvanls.     H,„  .|„l,  hin,s,.|f,  ,„■  whosoox-,.,-  „'         ; 

l"m,  as    ,a,l,  l„..n  us,.d  a.ains,  „„,  „„„.  ,■„,   f  '    ,, 

r:™:'  f""l'  '-l«-'""y  in  •■.  tin,..  wluM,  ..va,„,.sV       , 
".  .K,  and  amisalion  is  ||„.  j.,,,,,,,.     And  ir  ,his  l„. 
^.    .oaHn,n,.Hor.  innnkif,l,,...o,,,,,|,,'\',    : 
Honnsl,nv  H.ath.  nol,„dy  „„uld  ,ako  i,  np.     H,„  '  h, 

or;::;^r- '■'''■''■"'''■"■'"'''"'''• '-'--^ 

so  rnn„l  i„r  oonsc'ionoo.  „r  smsiliilin-,  for  he  saw 
ho  sononsnoss  of  his  position,  and  tho'  ono  of  H  ^ 
et.or  rovoals  tronblod  thon^hr.  Ho  know  hin,  oil  o 
P  a  n,an  n,nooon,  in  motivo  whom  it  wonid  I  o  ,  • 
>  p.;ovo  ^nnlfy  in   faof :    ho   know  , ha.   ,lan,  t  ,    d 

l"»aml    hoirononnos:   a,,,ll,o  know,  ,00,  ,IkU  wlnt 

.■v<.r  n„,d,t  1,0  his  ri;;ln  of  r, ,„ition  as  a  |J,: 

andsroat  finnkor,  "il  sh„ul,l  ho"  is  ,00  of,  ,  ,  |,^ 
'"t.,s  world  l,yhoroi,oa„.„M,o."  .  ,,  .p 
to  Janio.,  I-or  r|,o  bnbo„<.s  and  -jf,s  whorowi,!,  ( 
am  ohar,od  whon  ,ho  book  of  ho:.,-,;  shall  ,  !  .,/ 
I  hope  I  shall  no,  b,.  found  „,  |,avo  ri,,.  ,ronblod  m  ' 
""»  <>t  a  corrupt  hoa.t,  in  a  dopraved  habU  o;  ,aki  ..• 


ISTHOIH  criox 


XXXIX 


icwards  to  iMTVcil  justice;  howsoever  I  may  l)e  frail, 
and  partake  of  the  '^uses  of  the  times."  Th<'  |)rayer. 
too.  wliieli  lie  wrote  at  this  time.  !•  moving-  one. 
and  concludes  si<iiuficantly :  "When  1  1  ve  ascended 
before  men.  1  have  d(  scended  in  humiliation  before 
tiiee  ...  so  as  I  may  truly  say.  my  soul  hath  been 
a  stranger  in  the  course  of  my  pil»i;rimage. " 

The  Novum  Oiyantim,  mentioiu^d  al)ove,  had 
api)eared  in  Octobei-.  Iti'iO.  and  was  intiMided  as 
an  instalment,  with  the  earlier  AtlrnnccNK  nt  of 
lA'arn'nuj  and  the  later  Ih  Aiu/mottis  Sciculionnn, 
of  Bacon's  reviinv  of  " 'dl  knowledge."  his  dntit 
infttaumtion.  It  is  the  fruit  of  twelve  years  of 
composition,  and  though  finally  publislunl  in  some- 
what umnetliodical  form,  stiikes  the  keynote  of  th(> 
Baconian  philoso])hy.  trial  by  exiMM'iment.  the  sub- 
mission of  theory  to  natural  laws,  and  the  achieve- 
menl  of  freedom  by  harmonious  cooperation  with 
those  laws. 

As  the  determination  of  I'arliament  to  push  the 
prosecution,  and  the  reluctance  —  indeed  the  inabil- 
ity—  of  .James  and  Buckingham  decisi\(>ly  to  inter- 
fere became  more  and  more  a])parent.  Bacon  urged 
the  King  at  least  to  save  him  from  sentence,  and 
offered  to  resign  the  Seal.  In  vain.  Nothing  could 
now  prevent  his  formal  trial,  not  even  his  withdrawal 
of  all  attempt  at  defence.  In  Bacon's  memorandum 
of  his  last  conference  with  James  before  the  House 
met  again,  he  sa\s:  "The  law  of  nature  teaches 
me  to  speak  in      ly  own  defence.     With   respect  to 


i^'J 


"inmiiiT^'  iitr 


xl 


JXTh'f//)/  ('r/(,\ 


tins  charso  of  hriiKTy,  1  a,,,  as  innu,-o„t  as  anv  born 
u,x.„  St.  J,n„.....:„-s  Day:   I  never  had  bril„.  or  reward 

ZZo7',T\  """'•-'"."■''<■"    l-".nouneing  «M„enee 
or  o,  lei       II    Imvvever.  ,t  is  aljsoliitelv  neeessarv    the 
Kms's  wil   shall  bo  obeyed.     1  an,  i«aK-  <o  i„ak..  an 
oblation  of  niy.seli  to  the  Kins,  in  u  hose  haiul.s  I  an, 
■^  clay,  to  be  made  a  ves.sel  of  honour  or  dishonour  " 
The  K„,s  „,d,ca,e,l  l,i^  desi,-,..  him,,,.  «„-oi,i.dv  that 
Haccm  shouhl  »„b,„i,,  and  s,.en,s  lo  have  made  him 
adehmie  ,„-on„.se  ,.on,-e,-ni„K  fnt,„-e  pnr.U.i,  an,|   ,e- 
mss,on.      fh..    ••t,.ial"    ,ook    pha-e.    the    Honse    of 
Louis  aetniK  as  both  jnd^e  and  ,,ro.sec„tor.     A  forni-,1 
answer  was  ,-e,|„i,-ed  to  each  ,.o„n|  i„  ||,e  indietnieii't 
and  „  was  then  adj,„lge,l  -hat,  upon  |,i.s  own  eo  -' 

tliat  he  shall  „nderg„  l„,e  a„,l  ,an.soi„  of  fortx-  tho„- 
sand  ponn.ls;   be  in,p,i.soned  in  the  Tower  during  the 
luiiKs  pleasure;    b,.  fo,,.ver  ineapabi,.  of  anv  .ruiee 
a<.e  or  ,M„ployn,e,„  i„  (he  Smv  or  Conanonwealtl,; 

vei  ::  th'^'r  "V"  ""•""■'""'  '""• "--  »i'l'"'  "'« 
veige  or  tlic  (  ourt. 

From  the  Tower.  wl,ei-e.  of  eo,„-s,.,  his  stav  was 
«m.d,„Kly    brief,    the    fallen    Chaneellor   wrote    u 
B.cl<„,Kl,an,:    "However  i  have  aeknowle,lsed  th  . 
le  sentence  ,.s  .,„st,  and  for  ,-efor,na,ion  sake  t^t 

'Hied,   ,,„d   .■v,.,„„ally,   aK.T   miserable  delays  and 


INTRODUVTION 


xli 


conditions,  ho  was  allowed  to  reenter  London,  York 
House  first  ))assinj!;  into  liuekiniiham's  too  selfish 
hands.  A  complete  i)ardon  Haeon  never  obtained. 
He  was  not  permit t(>d  to  reenter  I'arliament,  and  was 
^iven  scant  (>ncoura<iement  in  James  to  pursue  even 
philosophy  and  letters,  thouuh  the  Court  ])arty, 
and,  indeed,  his  judj^es  at  lai',i!;<\  knew  him  to  he  in 
himself  an  upri<rht  man.  the  victim  of  his  own  in- 
te<irity  as  of  others'  lack  of  intejirity.  Sackville, 
for  e\amj)le,  in  conferriiii:;  with  him  after  the  sentence, 
use<l  this  remarkable  e\jm>ssio!i  concerninj;  Bacon's 
utiwilliiiiiness  to  «iiM'  up  \'ork  House:  "Jf  you 
part  not  sihhmUIv  with  it,  you  may  dealer  the  jjood 
which  is  apj)r()achin<i'  n(>ar  you,  and  disap|)ointinfz; 
other  aims  .  .  .  perliai)s  anew  yield  matter  of 
discontent,  thoufj/i  ffou  intuj  be  itahal  as  innocent  <is 
before. " 

liut  five  years  remained  for  liacon.  years  of  unre- 
mitting literary  toil  and^  philosojdiic  achievement; 
years,  l)esid(\s,  not  of  bi'oodiii<2;  over  th(>  ))ast  i)Ut  of 
unconquerable  hope  for  the  future.  He  knew  that 
all  debts  are  at  leuiith  pai<l,  or.  rather,  are  always 
bein,i;  i)aid.  As  l']merson  -  himself  a  terse  essayist 
on  several  of  Bacon's  themes  —  so  finely  j)Uts  it, 
"  the  world  is  full  of  jud<inient  days.  "  Cnfortunately, 
Bacon  did  not  so  fully  realize  the  corresponding  truth, 
that  "our  own  orbit  is  all  our  task."  That  fame  is 
God's  thoufi'ht  of  a  man  he  felt  and  believed,  yet 
he  allowed  himsi^lf  to  becomes  cumbered  with  much 
serviuj:;.    often    for    lower    imni'Hiiat(>   ends    thai)    he 


xlii 


IXTROnrcTKtX 


himself  would  have  ciiosen.     His  anxiety  for  the  little 
often  ohseiired  or  retarded  his  i)ursuit  of  the  lar^e. 
He  was  too  frequently  embarrassed  with  conditions 
whieh  we  eould  wish  he  had  been  spared,  for  both  his 
eharaeter's  sake  ajid   his  work's  sake.     Vet    he  was 
always    a    pro^iessive    ma'-.     Too    reserved    ever    to 
make  hunself  winsome,  like   Kssex;    too  ^entk^  and 
discreet   to  impress  himself  with  coarse  posit iven(>ss 
on  th(^  official  and  popular  mind,  like  Coke;   a  st(\idv 
and   consci(Mitious  thinker;    a   modest   and  di^nifiecl 
^^entleman:     an  equipped    lawyer;     a  discriminating 
upholder  of  the   i)rero<>ative;    a   benevolent   user  of 
men;    and  a  consistently  ea«2;er  reformer  of  learning; 
Bacon  })resents  a  composite  yet  ajipreciable  character. 
During  his  last  years  he  finished  his  famous  Hhtory 
of^    Henry    VII.,   and    began    his    Ilii^tonf   of    Henry 
VIII.    and    his    Hislory    of    Great    Britain,    neither 
of   which    was    comi)l(>ted.     In    U)23    he    wrote    his 
History    of    Life    and     Death,     published    the    De 
Augment  is   Seienfiarum,    an    enlargement     in     Latin 
of  the  ".Advancement."  and,  j)robably.  the  unfinished 
Dr   Atlantis.       In    lO^o.   as   before   stated,   the   last 
edition  of  the  Essays  aj)peare(l,  and  the  saine  y^ar 
found   him  busily  e?igaged  in  compiling  voluminous 
records  and  obs(M-vations. 

The  death  of  James  early  in  the  year  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  that  of  Bacon,  luister  Day.  .April  9.  1026, 
due  to  bronchitis  contracted  while  testing  the  pre- 
servative value  of  snow  u|)on  the  dead  body  of  a  hen. 
He  passed  away  in  a  house  l)elonging  to  the  Karl  of 


IXTRODrcTIOX 


xliii 


Arundel,  at  Hi^h^atc  iittcmkxl  ))y  oiio  or  two  faithful 
friends.  At  his  own  request  he  was  hvu'ied  near  his 
mother  in  the  Church  of  St.  Miehael,  at  St.  Albans. 
Over  his  toinh  is  loyal  Sir  Thomas  Meau^vs's  monu- 
ment of  him.  with  a  stately  Latin  ej)itaph  by  Sir 
Henry  Wotton.  His  will  leaves  his  nisme  and  memory 
"  to  liien's  charitable  speeches,  to  foreign  nations,  and 
the  next  ages." 


J 


BACON  AS  A  FHH.OSOPHKR 

T(  will  be  neither  desirable  nor  necessary  to  present 
mo!  ■  tlum  a  rapid  outline  here  (  f  the  Baconian  phi- 
'  .->.     .-,  witii  an  estimate  of  its  worth  and  influence. 
'Uher  of  inductive  science  "  is  the  tith'  frequently, 
Cxv'n   generally,    bestowed    upon    liacon.     This    title 
belongs  to  him.  however,  rather  in  reference  to  the 
large    and    would-be    successful    adventure    of    his 
fertile  mind  in  a  day  of  intellectual  vagary  and  con- 
fusion, than  in  reference  to  either  his  idea  of  a  natural 
l)hilos()phy  or  his  method  of  estal)lishing  that  idea. 
His  idea,  indeed,  failed  to  take  into  account  the  com- 
l)le.\ity  and  versatility  of  nature,  and  his  method  was 
fatally  depersonalized  —  if  we  may  use  the  word  — 
a  method  in  its(^lf  arl)itrary  and  mechanical,  ignoring 
th(>  value  of  imagination  as  framing  hypotheses,  of 
enthusiasm  as  giving  zest  to  the  chase  of  causal  rela- 
tions, and  of  humihty  in  yielding  as  merely  tentative 
theories    that    should    become    unfit    to   account    for 
newly   observed   phenomena. 


xliv 


INTRODICTIOX 


Bacon's  pnnu>  idoa  was,  in  a  word,  induction.     This 
was  not  even  in  his  day  oy  any  means  a  novel  idea, 
but  he  ^ave  to  it  ^n-eat  di^^nity  and  clearness.     He 
insisted  upon  trial  by  experiment,  upon  the  faithful 
and  miuMte  examination  of  all  known  facts  as  the 
first  step  in  the  movement  toward  a  compreliensive 
and  interpretative  knowiedjce.     He  believed  that  this 
kingdom  of  knowI(>d,o;e  was  opcMi  to  all  men  who  would 
walk    therein    steadily    and    with    assurance;     that 
guesses  were  vain;    that  past  philosoj.hies  had  been 
largely  barren;    that  facile  generalizations  must  be 
forsworn;  and  that,  ascending  as  from  the  base  to  the 
apex  of  a  triangle,  man  must  pass  slowlv  but  certainly 
from  masses  of  fact,  by  means  of  comparison  and 
ehmmation,  to  the  pure  h.rm,  or  cause,  or  essence 
which,  once  known,  is  known  as  fixed  and  changeless' 
Ihe^  most    thorough    and    admiring    students    of 
Bacon  s  philosophy,  howev(>r,  such  as  Kllis,  Spedding 
IS-ichol,  and  others,  willing  though  they  be  to  attribute 
to  him  and  to  the  Frenchman  Descartes  the  settino-  in 
motion  of  the  modern  impulse  in  philosophv,  recognize 
the  weaknesses  in  the  elaborate  programme  o?  the 
Noviuu  Organum  and  its  author's   failure^   to  realize 
lis   progranune.     Hri(>fly   stated,   the   weaknesses   of 
Bacon  as  a  philosophc^r  aro  these:  he  himself  had  not 
the  temper  of  the  inductive  scientist.     "  His  centuries 

ot  observations  on  useful  scienee,  and  his  experiments  " 
Eriierson  supposes,  "were  worth  nothing  One 
hint  of  Franklm,  or  Watl.  or  Dalton.  or  Daw  or 
anyone  who  had  a  talent  for  experiment,  was  worth 


ixrh'ffDrcTiox 


xlv 


all  his  lifetime  t)f  ex(iuisite  trifles."     He  tended  to 
iijnore  the  'inportance  of  tliorou«ili  j^ersoiial  equipment 
in  tiie  hivestigator.  and  was  without  rejiartl.  therefore, 
for  mathematies,  a  necessary  companion  in  precisely 
such  undertakings  as  his.     Again,   if   he  lacked  the 
patience  of  the   scientist,  he  lacked  alst>  his  enthu- 
siasm.    His   tone   in    the  Novum  Organ uni  and  the 
l)c  Atafinentia    Scicntianun    sometimes   waxes  over- 
lofty   and   positive,   or   becomes   on   occasion   coldly 
directive.     He  ilid  not  bring  all  of  himself  to  his  great 
task,  his  work  often  suggesting  rather  the  well-oiled 
processes  of  the  professional  thinker  than  the  high 
spirit    of    iMuerson's    Man    Thinking.     Further,    as 
indicated  above,  he  seeks  to  cancel  all  hypotheses, 
which,   howe^  .'r.   must   ho   conceived   as   antecedent 
id(^as  in  order  to  the  success  of  any  scientific  enterprise. 
He  asserted  that  his  own  method  was  so  certain  as 
to   preclude   all   necessity   for   preconceptions.     Yet, 
and  largely  for  this  very  reason,  he  himself  failed  to 
make  any  one  definite  conn-ibution  to  the  discoveries 
of  Science,  allowing  himself  vO  be  outstripped  by  lesser 
men   than   he,    his   contemiioraries   Kepler,   Harvey, 
anil  Gilbert. 

Bacon's  name,  neverthekvss,  will  justly  remain 
famous  as  that  of  England's  greatest  philosopher,  in 
that  his  principles  were  sound«'r  than  he  knew. 
Though  his  reach  exceeded  his  grasp,  he  saw  pretty 
clearly  that  the  inductive  system  must  be  rescued  from 
loose  ways  antl  cleansed  from  the  errors  conceived 
in   the   bad   comjiany   of   tradition.     He   spoke   out 


xlvi 


isrsourvriox 


boldl.v  ,„  favour  „f  „„.th,Kls  of  ..xan.ination  wliiel,  ho 
Inmsel  was  too  pi-oocci.piod  and  mu.q,iip,x,|  to  pursue 
...  the  tree .,p,„t  with  whieh  he proelai, „e<l  thetn  "He 
spoke  the  tho„Khts  of  patient  toilers  lij^e  Harvey  " 
says  thiirel,,  "with  a  largeness  and  riehness  whiih 

nXr,'  h"  '■"'"'"''"J;  1'"'  "I'"-!.  tl.e,v  perhaps 
sm.led  at.  He  disentangled  and  spoke  the  va-iie 
Loughts  o  his  age.  whieh  other  tnen  had  not  t L 
courage  and  e  earn  ess  of  mind  to  fornudate.     What 

matters.     He  ,«„,„,  an  mfallihle  method  bv  whieh 
...a..  sho„l,l  Ik-  fnlly  eq„ip,x.d  for  a  strnggl,.  w 
»=""'■'■:   1";  ...oant  an  irresislihle  and  inunedhtte  eo  - 
quest,   witlnn   a  definite  and   not  distant    time      It 
was  too  mneh.     He  hhnself  saw  no  tnore  of  wlmt  he 
nuj.ntthan(^,lun,l,nsdi,lof.A„,,.riea.     lintwhrti: 
M  wa.,  to  persuade  men  for  the  fntnre  that  the  intel- 
hgent  pat,ent,  ,K.r.sev<.ring  eross-e.xa.ninationof  things 
and  the  thonghts  about  theni,  was  the  onlv.  an,l  w^, 
the  sueee.ssful  road  to  know  " 

sha"red"!';f ,<'"'"''"•'""/"■•  ''"■  ^''^"^-^  "f  -"an  is 

nobihtyof  his  reason  and  the  divineness  of  his  ■,»- 
prehension.     Despite  the  ineffeeti^•eness  of  hi    own 

d  inks'Tf't'l-    '■'"'""'"  ^°"  ""   *"   *«'"   '-'   "he 
iiiLu  i.ri^iana.     U  here  thai  i^oes    s  Doctrv 
.ealth,  an,l  progress. "    And  it  is  of  eldef  imporTa,  i^e 
^        ;™  «'"'"  "■'■'«'"•»  tl.-  K.-eat  value  of'l  W 
«ork  n.  philosophy  as  elaiming  lor  man  the  intellect- 


INTRODCCTION 


xlvii 


iial  power  requisite  for  the  mastery  ot  nature's  laws 
and  secrets.     It  is  this  hi^ii  declaration  (^f  enterprise, 
this  assured  promise  of  victory,  that  wins  for  Bacon 
the  suffrages  of  all  succe(Hling  exi)lorers  in  the  world 
of  thought.     "As  a  student  of  nature,"  wrote  K.  P. 
Whipple    in    Thv    Atlantic    Monthly    for    November, 
1868,   "his  fame  is  greater  than   his  deserts;    as  a 
student  of  human  nature,  he  is  hardly  yet  appreci- 
ated;  and  it  is  to  the  greater  part  of  the  first  hook 
of  the  Novum  Orqanum,  when^  he  deals  in  general 
reflections  on  those  mental   habits  and'  dispositions 
which  interfere  with  pure  intellectual  conscientious- 
ness, and  where  his  beneficent  s])irit  and  rich  imagina- 
tion   lend    sweetness    and    beauty    to    the    homeliest 
practical  wisdom,  that  the  reader  impatiently  n^turns, 
after  being  wearicnl  with  the  details  of  his  method 
given   in  the  second   book.     His  method   was  anti- 
(luated  in  his  own  lifetime;   Imt  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
centuries  hence  his  analysis  of  the  idols  of  the  h\iman 
understanding  will  be  as  fresh  and  new  as   human 
vanity  and  pride." 

To  conclude  this  brief  review,  let  it  be  noticed  that 
Bacon's  work  spc^lls,  in  its  own  way,  the  name  of  (Jod. 
It  is  not  disi)assioiiate  merely,  but  philanthropic. 
He  desired  not  only  to  instruct,  but  also  to  elevate, 
mankind,  and  accordingly  informs  his  words  often 
with  something   more   than   knowledge  — 


"...  earthly  of  the  mind, 
But  Wisdom  heavenly  of  the  soul." 


xlviii 


INTRODUCTION 


Let  the  followiiio:  pjissagos  attest,  of  whieh  the  first 
is    taken    from   The    Advanconcnt   of   Lcarnhiq  ar.d 
the  remain iiiii"  two  from  tlie  Norum  Orqanvm:  "For 
the    contemplation    of    (Jod's    creatures    and    works 
prodnceth  (havin«r  rei-ard  to  the  works  and  creatures 
themselves)  knowledire;    hut  havin*;  re<rard  to  (Jod. 
no  perfect  knowle(l.i2:e,  but  wonder,  which  is  broken' 
knowled«re."     "  Therefore  let  all  men  know  how  much 
difference  there  is  l)etween  the  idoln  of  the  human 
Mind  and  the  Ideas  of  the  Divine.     For  the  former 
are   nothiuG;  but  arbitrary  abstractions;    the   latter 
are  the  true  stamps  of  the  (Veator  upon  his  creatures. 
.  .  .     And  so  truth  and  utility  in  this  ease  are  tho 
very  same  thin«j:s;    and  results  themselves  are  to  be 
more  esteemed,  as  bein^  pledores  of  truth,  than  as 
supplymo-  conveniences  for  life."     "Let  the  human 
race  only  recover  the  ri<jhts  over  Xature  which  by 
God's  endowment  belon^r  to  it ;  and  let  power  be  given 
It.  riijht  H(vison  and  sound   Religion  will  direct  its 
application." 

THE   ESSAYS 

An  essay,  as  the  name  implies,  is  in  general  an 
adventuring,  an  endeavour  to  do  something.  In 
literature  this  meaning  h.olds  good,  though  the  be- 
ginnings of  the  literary  essay  are  to  be  looked  for  in 
casual  (experiences,  in  the  suggestions  that  come  to 
thinkers  m  "undress"  mood,  in  the  "plav"  side  of 
life.  The  e.ssay  as  a  type  has  verv  slowlv  fak(Mi  ..ii 
<lignity   and   differentiated    itself   from   other    tvpes 


■M 


■mmm 


INTRODVt'TION 


xlix 


It  has  boon  normally  considcrccl  a  by-product,  few 
writers  of  fame  havinj--  as  yet  restricted  their  prcKluc- 
tion  to  tliis  form.  Dr.  Johnson's  definition  of  the 
essay  as  "a  loose  sally  of  the  mind"  is  admirable, 
provided  that  by  "loose"  we  understand  "tenta- 
tively reac'hini,^  out  after,"  not  "poorly  organized," 
for  the  essay's  very  artU^ssn.ss  and  abandon  are  sub- 
ject to  law.  The  charm  of  the  essay,  particularly  of 
the  lyric  order,  lies  in  its  flexibility,  its  prattle,  so  to 
speak,  and  is  jjone  unless  the  piinciples  of  brevity, 
clearness,  and  ease,  or  winsomeness,  be  continuously 
observed.  Even  the  apparent  sacrifice  of  coherence 
should,  if  possible,  be  more  ai>par(mt  than  real. 

The  term  has  long  since  become  an  elastic  one,  ex- 
tending from  a  competent  writer's  casually  related 
jottings  on  a  chosen  subject  to  the  more  formal  and 
pretentious  treatise.  Montaigne  ap])ears  to  have 
given  the  word  its  place  in  literature.  His  Kssais 
were  publish(>d  at  P.ordeaux  in  1  o.SU,  and  soon  became 
familiar  to  Shakesi)eare  and  to  the  Bacon  brothers, 
Anthony,  indeed,  having  been  in  Bordeaux  about 
that  time.  Montaigne  used  the  word  in  its  primary 
meaning,  and  he  and  his  readers  stressed  the  sec()nd 
syllable    in     pronunciation.*      That    such     differing 

^  riiis  would  scom  also  to  li:iv<-  been  the  Elizubothan  English 
promiiiciatioii.  C(«ini)an'  the  following  tloggerel,  attributed  to  Dr. 
Andrews,  Bishop  of  Wiiu-hesicr  : — 

"  When  learned  Bacon  wrote  Essays 
He  did  deserve  and  hath  the  praise; 
But  now  he  writes  his  '  Apophthegms,' 
Surely  he  dozes  or  he  dreams." 


1 


IXTRODll'TIOX 


writers   as    Hacoii.    Lanih.    IhiuTsoii,    I.owoll,   Pator, 
have  (Miiploycd  the  form  loads  at  once  to  tlie  state- 
ment that  tliere  are  st^veral  orders  of  the  essay,  tli(>ir 
nature  varyin*r  witli  their  souree.     There  is,  first,  tiie 
portrait-essay,  with  its  personal  eameos  and  minia- 
ture   a})praisements,    found    in    many    of    Addison's 
''Spectator"  papers,  in  some  of  Dickens's  ''Sketches 
by  Hoz,"  and  in  a  few  of  A«rnes  Ke])plier's  essays  of 
our  own  time.     This  is  followetl  by  the  deliberately 
humorous  essay,  as  others  of  JJickens's,  not  a  few  of 
Thackeray's,  and  pa{)ers  by  Holmes,  Clemens,  Doug- 
las Jerrold;    the   "wisdom"  essay,   as   Bacon's  and 
Emerson's;    the  critical  essay,  as  Pater's  or  Goldwin 
Smith's,  rej)resenting  the  j)ersonal  sally  of  the  cul- 
tured  mind   into  the  field  of  literary  criticism;    the 
historical   essay,   as   many   of   Macaiilay's   and'car- 
lyle's;    tiie   "nature"  (\ssay,   as  represented   by   the 
work  of  Izaak  Walton  and  of  Henry  1).  Thoreau ;  the 
professional  essay,  constituting  a  iit(>rary  treatn.ent 
of  legal,  medical,  or  theological  tojncs;  and,  last,  the 
"lyric"   essay,   so  called    because  it   seeks    to   bring 
the  reader  into  close,  personal,  intimate  touch  with 
the  writer  himself,  his  moods,  whims,  and  \agaries. 
to   express  —  or,    rather,    to   suggest  —  the    writer's 
amotion,  to  "make  friends,"  — a  fashion  delightfully 
represented  by  Lamb,  by  Stevenson,  and,  in  our  day, 
by  Samuel  M.  Crothers. 

To  the  third  of  these  orders  Bacon's  essays 
belong.  They  are,  as  Bacon  himself  ])hrases  it, 
"certain   brief  notes,   set  down   ratlier  significantly 


jyTiioJK  triox 


li 


than  curiously,  miuirinjj;  both  l(>isuro  in  tho  writer 
and  reader,"  and  devoted  to  the  direct  and  even  pro- 
verbial cxi)()sition  of  topics  for  the  most  part  \v(>i^hty. 
"Though  the  wonl  is  lale,''  he  writes  to  tiie  Trince 
of  Wales,  "the  thing  is  ancient:    for  Seneca's  Hpis- 
tles  to  Lucilius,  if  you  mark  them  well,  are  hut  essays; 
that  is,   dispersed   meditations   though   conveyed   in 
'he  form  of  epistles.     These  labours  of  mine,  I  know, 
cannot  be  worthy  of  your  Highness,  for  what  can  b(^ 
worthy  of  you?     But   my  hope  is.  they  may  Ix^  as 
grains  of  salt,  that  will  rath(>r  giv(^  you  an  a])petite 
than  offend  you  with  satiety.     And   although   they 
handle   those   things   wherein  both   men's   lives  and 
their  persons  are  most  conversant ;    yet  what  1  have 
attained   I  know  not;    but  I   have  endeavoured   to 
make  them  not  vulga  ;   but  of  a  nature  whereof  a 
man  shall  find  much  in  experience  and  little  in  books; 
so  as  they  are  neither  repetitions  nor  fancies."     Their 
subject-matter    ro!iges    from     the     abstractions     of 
Truth   and    Love,    through    the   daily   businesses   of 
Travel,    P^xpense,    Studies,    and    emi)irical    observa- 
tions on  Gardens  and  Buikling,  to  the  half-concessive 
di.scu.ssion  of  such  "toys"  as  Mascpies  and  Triumphs. 
The  contents   of    the   third   edition   may   be   loosely 
classified    as     follows:      I.    C'onditions    of     Personal 
Welfare,     (a)    Moral  and  Intellectual  —  Numbers  4, 
5,   12,   14,  27,  31.  34,  50,  53-55,  57.     (h)    Political 
and  Prudential  —  Numbers  (i  IS.  21   23,  25,  26,  2S. 
32,   47-49.     (r)    Physical   and    Domestic;  —  Numbers 
30,  43-46.     Jl.    World-Problems,   common   to   Man- 


m 


lii 


7.v'/  t,',j>   ■  rii'ty 


kind  --  Xiin,!)ors  I,  2.  1().  i.i.  lo.  ];,  3,s,  40^  42^  ,5^ 
in.  Topics  rrlaring  (u  So'u-^v  is  Such  —  Num'bf>ns 
3.  7,  S.  II.  ir,,  19.  20,  24.  29,  :V.\,  :i5  .37,  :)!),  41,  ol,  o2, 
56. 

^Tho    first    odition    of     iho    A',,. ///.v    app.'.Mrod     in 
lo97,    in   a    thin   octavo    voiiinic.       "  ICssayes,    Heii- 
^ious    Meditations.    Places    of    Persuasion    a-i'l    Dis- 
.swasion.  Scene  a-id    Allowed."     -and  inehidrd  three 
distinct    works,    the    Medita'ion^s    Stu  ac    in    Latin, 
tli(>  Colours  Of  GnnH  and  Evil,  -avA  tjie  A'.sw/v.s  proper.' 
then  niiniberin.n  wn,  and  tonehin^^  Studv.  i )is. -onrse.' 
Ceremonies   and    iJcspects,    Follow.. s    and    Friends.' 
Suitors.  Kxnence.  Ke-ii.ient  of   Health.  Honour  and' 
Repniation,  i-^ietion.  and   Xe<;ociatiiiir.     All  of  the^e 
had  been  partially  current  for  souK^'vears  in  manu- 
seript.     The  little  l)ook  was  amMiionatelv  dedicated 
by  Francis   Bacon,   then    ihirty-six   years  of  a^-^,  to 
h:s  brother  Anthony,  as  follows:-^' 

"To  Mil.  AxTifoxv  Bvrox, 
"His  Dear  Brother. 

"  Lovin«^-  an<l  beloved  brother.  I  do  non  iike  some 
that  have  an  orchard  ii  cjo-hboured  that  iraUier 
their  fruit  before  it  is  r-ipe.  to  pr"vci 
These  fraunients  of  'uy  .  otc  .-ii  u(>re  ^  ,• 
to  labour  the  stay  of  thei,,  h.id  been  •> 
and  subject  (o  interp-etalion ;  lo  let  the 
been  to  adventure  the  wron":  tlun-  nii^ht 
untruf  copies,  or  by  some  JiarnidmuM 
miixht  [)I(>asean\  that  siKuddset  ilu'U)  forth  K 


teah   L 
to  pri-iT 

ubl.      . 
p.v 

^»eei\ 
v\    ■' 


la^ 


i.\  rf{f>i 


<t. 


li 


I 


upon   '  ht'Hi.     '1   lorofo.  '   \  1 


i 


\ 


x'sf      iscretioii 
.1-  ill      lu  from  ui 

•  (ii  '  hail       •  woakmvs 

.!      .'vcr  lioM.  .  iieiv  nii<2;lit 
'•Hiriii«i  and  witlidrawin^  inch's 
'if  of  some  Mature)   from  tie 
u;  ;  hem :    s(t  in  these  parti* 
thi    iiujuisitor.  and  find  n 
in  tliem  contrary  or  infe< 
-n.      •  manners,  hut  rather,  a.- 
e.        Illy    1   (Hshked   now   '  »   f 
uy      ill  he  like  the  late  new  luu- 
wi'    h.  tl    aiirh  the  silver  were  ^rood,  yet  the 
v<       small.     But   sinee  thev  would  not  stav 


puhlisli  then  n,  «  if. 
pen.  w  he  It  Mi  fui 
of  the  !t lit.>r  \nd 
1k'  as  jii  at  ii  til  ^v  ' 
foii'-eits  v<'^*''  P'  1 ' 
won  i,  as  ii.  ■•.hti  id 
1  lur  e  pii;  ■  t'U  mvs 

U\   \v\    Mil        "st-ih 
to  1  'h'     tale  oi 
-  appose,    iiiedi 
'!ii  Mi  on'    '  )('(•;;  i.- 

•'Int 


iili   .    eii    .  i;!><ter    hut  would  need--  ♦^ravel  ahroad.  I 

wa\      {>re{e?''     '    tl    n\   to  yon    that   are   next   myself; 

deiih  ati?i.<r  iht  n        eh  as  they  are,  to  our  love,  in  the 

dei>?h  whcM'eo        assure  you,  1  sometimes  wish  your 

infirmities  translatetl  upon  myself,  that  her  Majesty 

ni  i:ht  have  the  scM'vice  of  so  aetive  and  ahle  a  mind; 

1   I  mi>i}»t  he  with  excuse  confined  to  these  con- 

. mplations  and  studies,  for  which  I  am  fittest:    so 

•ommend  1  you   to  the  preservation  of  the  J)ivine 

Majesty.     From   my   chamher   at   Gray's   Inn,   this 

iOth  of  January,  1597. 

"  Your  entire  lovinjr  brother, 

"Francis  Bacon." 

This  edition  was  reprinted   in   1.598  by   Humphrey 
Hooper,  with  the  Rdi(jlouH  Miditations  in  English, 


mmm 


liv 


INTHOUirTION 


but  othorwiso  iinclian'jcd,  and  ei^lit  years  later  John 
Jaggard  j)ut  out  a  pirated  edition. 

The  second  regular  and  authorized  edition  was 
printed  at  London,  in  1612,  in  an  octavo  entitled 
"The  Mssaies  of  Sir  Francis  Jl^con,  Knight,  the 
Kings  Solliciter  (ienerail.  Imprinted  at  London  by 
John  I  Vale.  1(312."  and  dedicated  in  the  following 
words  to  Sir  John  ('onstable,  Bacon's  brothcr-ui- 
law :  — 

"  To  My  Loving  Brother, 
"SiH  John  Coxstahli;,  Kxt. 

"My  last  I^Jssays  1  dedicated  to  my  dear  brother, 
Mr.  Anthony  Bacon,  who  is  with  God.  Looking 
among  my  papers  this  vacation.  I  found  others  of  the 
same  fiatiire:  which,  if  I  myself  shall  not  suffer  to  be 
lost,  it  seemeth  the  world  will  not.  by  the  often  print- 
ing of  the  foi-mer.  Missing  my  brother,  I  found  you 
next;  in  respect  of  bond  both  of  near  alliance,  and  of 
straight  iViendshij)  and  society,  and  particularly  of 
cominiiMicali.ci  in  studies.  Wherein  I  must  ac- 
knowledge myself  hehokling  to  you.  For  as  my 
business  found  rest  in  my  contemplations,  so  my 
contemplations  ever  found  rest  in  your  loving  con- 
ference and  judgment.  So  wishing  you  all  good,  1 
remain  yom-  loving  brother  and  friend, 

ui,.,.,  ,,  "FiJAXcis  Bacon. 

Bacon  had  originally  intended  to  dedicate  this  edi- 
tion to  Henry.  Frince  of  Wak's,  who,  however,  died 


IXTROItrCTlOX 


Iv 


•1 

j 


before  the  book  was  piiblisliod.  It  contained  thirty- 
eight  essays,  inohuling  all  but  one  —  "Honour  and 
Reputation"  —  of  the  original  group,  though  in 
forms  much  revised  and  amplified.  "  I  always  alter," 
said  Bacon,  "wht-ti  1  add,  so  that  nothing  is  finished 
till  all  is  finished."  Thoi'gh  the  table  gives  fortv 
titles,  the  last  two,  "Of  the  Public"  and  "Of  War 
and  Peace,"  were  virtually  merged  with  "Of  Clreat- 
ness  of  Kingdoms." 

Four  pirated  editions  followed,  dated  one  in  1012, 
one  in  1613,  and  two  in  1624.  The  third  regular 
edition,  a  quarto,  ai)p<^ared  in  1625,  entitled  "The 
p]ssayes  or  Counsels,  Civill  and  Morall.  of  Francis 
L.  Verulam,  Viscount  St.  Alban.  Xewly  enlarged. 
London,  Printed  by  John  Haviland  for  Hanna  Barret 
and  Richard  Whitak(^r,  and  are  to  be  sokl  at  the 
Signe  of  the  King's  Head  in  I'aul's  Churchyard."  It 
was  dedicated  to  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  con- 
tained fifty-eight  essays,  —  the  original  ten,  includ- 
ing "Honour  and  Reputation";  the  twenty-nine 
added  in  1612;  and  nineteen  new.  Of  the  thirty- 
nine  previously  published  nearly  all  h;id  undergone 
close  revision,  and  much  new  material  had  been 
added  to  them.  "Of  R(>ligion"  and  "Of  Friend- 
ship," two  of  the  essays  of  the  second  edition,  wen; 
re-written  in  into. 

That  the  EsmifH  l)rought  him  more  contempo- 
rary popularity  as  a  writer  than  any  other  of  his 
works  was  early  nn'ognized  by  Bacon,  "for  tliat,  as 
it  seems,   they   come   home   to  men's  business   and 


ivi 


ISTKODVCTIOy 


bosoms."     Jr  cannot  he  said,  howovor,  that  he  ever 
looked  upon  them  as  pecuHarly  of  his  own  business 
and   bosom.     "As  for  my   Essays,   and  some  other 
particulars  of  that  nature,"  he  writes  to  the  liishop 
of  Wincliester.  "I  count  them  but  as  the  recreations 
of  my  other  studies,  and  in  that  maimer  purj)ose  to 
continue  them;    th()u<2:h  I  am  not  i<>-norant  that  these 
kind  of  writinjis  would,  with  less  pains  and  assiduity, 
perhaps    yield    more    lustre    and    reputation    to    my 
name   than   the   otiiers   J    have   in   hand."     Bacon" 
idea  of  thcMu  would  seem  to  be  that  they  were  as  the 
diverse  byways  leading  to  the  large  and  solid  struc- 
ture   of    his    t'loufiht-system,    represented    by    such 
works  as  the  Novum  Onjanum,  I)e  Auamentia  Scienti- 
arum,  and  Advancement  of  Learning,  and  that  though 
many   of    his    readers   would    doubtless    be    content 
to  wander  in   these   little   paths,  so   j)erhaps  catch- 
ing occasional  and   various  glimpses  of  the  central 
building,    yd    that    possi'oly    those    very    glimpses 
might   lead   a   few  at   least   to   undertake   Mie   more 
toilsome   excursion    into   and    through    the   building 
itself.     It  is  not  difficult,  on  this  hypothesis,  to  hc- 
counl    for    Bacon's    eagerness    lo   have   the    A'-sw/z/.v, 
with  his  other  Knglish  works,  translated  into  Latin, 
a    task   in   which    tii,^   good    friends   George    Herbert 
and    B(Mi    Jonson.  with    others,    participated.      The 
AW///.S  appeared  n!s(i  in   French  and   Italian. 

Why  Bacon  placed  such  posit iv(>  faith  in  the  future 
of  the  Latin  tongue  is  a  (juestion  less  readily  an- 
swered when  we  consider  the  power,  aspiration,  and 


IXTRODl'f'TTOy 


Ivii 


ppsential  indopoiKlenco  of  the  l^lizabothan  temper, 
ami  the  boldly  successful  use  of  lionieliest  Siixon  by 
such  men  as  Shakespeare,  S|)enser.  Raleigli,  and 
even  Bacon  himself,  as  occasion  directed  and  jus- 
tified. It  cannot,  '»f  course,  be  fairly  said  that 
Shakespeare  and  Spenser  deliberately  anticipated 
(heir  fame,  or  thought  much  about  the  ])ermanency 
of  their  vernacular,  despite  Spenser's  dedicatory 
phrase  of  hope  that  the  Faerie  Queoie  should  live 
with  the  eternity  of  i^li/.abeth's  fame.  Indeed,  the 
really  great  Elizabethans,  with  the  prominent  excej)- 
tion  of  Bacon,  show  for  the  most  part  a  nmch  more 
royal  indifference  to  their  future  memories  and  in- 
fluence than  their  modern  successors  are  accustomed 
to  do.  It  is  true  that  late  Tudor  English  shows  a 
marked  Latinizing  tendency,  owing  to  the  revival  of 
interest  in  classical  literature  and  the  unquenchable 
curiosity  f  the  men  of  the  Renaissance  in  both  in- 
tellectuaJ  jn.i  physical  travel.  The  prevailing  craze 
for  Euph..  sm  —  a  vice  from  which  Shakespeare, 
Sidney,  and  Bacon  themselves,  though  condemning 
it,  were  not  wholly  free,  especially  in  their  earlier 
work  —  was  due  to  the  belief  of  John  Lyly,  its  fore- 
most exponent,  and  others,  that  there  was  as  yet  no 
standard  of  good  I'jiglish  style,  a  defect  they  sought 
to  remedy  by  the  over-nice  use  of  classical  balance 
and  Italian  ornament.  Antithesis,  alliteration,  and 
assonance  are  its  prevailing  characteristics,  and  ex- 
cellent specimens,  outside  of  Lyly's  Euphues,  may 
be  found  in  such  a  phrase  as  this,  from  Sidney's 


Iviii 


INTROIU'CTION 


Di'jcmc  oj  Pnc.^!/:  "...  wl»o  by  ihoir  own  di8- 
Sracoful IK 'ss  (Us«!;rn('(>  tlic  inost  jjnuelul  jmusv,"  or 
in  tliis  from  SixMiscr's  F(u,iv  Queene :  — 

"  •  This  <;riefes  ileepe  wound  I  would  to  thee  disclose, 
Thereto  compelled  through  hart-niurdriug  paine  ; 
liut  dread  of  shame  my  doubtfull  lips  doth  still  restraine.' 

"  '  Ah  !  my  deare  dread,'  said  then  the  fearefull  niayd, 
'Can  dread  of  ought  your  dreadlesse  hart  withhold, 
Tliat  many  hath  witii  dnud  of  deatl-  dismayd. 
And  dare  even  di-alhes  most  dreadi.id  face  behold?'" 

or  in  Sliakospoarc's  dolijrhted  burlesque  of  it  in  the 
Harulicraftsmen's  jjlay  concluding  A  Midsummer 
Nigfif's  Dream;  the  ostentatious  lament  of  Laertes 
at'Oplielia's  funeral,  etc.  There  is  an  interesting 
use  of  it,  to  select  hut  one  example,  in  Bacon's  essay, 
"Of  Suitors":  "Surely  there  is  in  some  sort  a  right 
in  every  suit;  eitlier  a  right  of  e(iuity,  if  it  be  a  suit 
,)f  controversy,  or  a  right  of  desert,  if  it  be  a  suit  of 
p(>tition.  If  affection  lead -a  man  to  favour  the  wrong 
side  in  justice,  let  him  rather  use  his  countenance  to 
compound  the  matter  tlian  to  carry  it.  If  affection 
lead  a  man  to  favour  the  less  worthy  in  desert,  let 
him  do  it  without  depraving  or  disabling  the  better 
deserver. '' 

The  dangen)us  ease  with  which  Euphuism  ran  to 
extremes  brought  ai)out  early  r<M\ctions.  The  fashion 
was  laughed  out  of  court  by  Puttenham,  Sidney, 
and  others  by  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,— 
certainly    Hacon   was   never   mastered   by   it,  —  yet 


INTROinCTlOX 


IX 


copious  horrowinsi;  fnun  \]\o  I.atin  fontiiuKMl  and  was 
cxtciKlcMl  vith  tlu'  inci-casc  of  new  intellectual  needs 
and  discovei'ies.     The  native  voeahulary  was  greatly 
(expanded,   and   literan-   style  as  well  as  diction   t'(>lt 
accordin<;ly    tlie'   I.atini/an<2;    influence.     I'nder    such 
circunistaiHU's.    it    is   plain   that    I-atin   had   hrst-rate 
di<!;nity  in  the  iviiai'd  of  thinking-  men.  whatever  alt'ec- 
tion  tliey  nii,<:;ht  show  also  for  I'ln<2;lish.      Hacon  com- 
posed   much   directly    in    Latin,    and    translated    his 
Knglisli   work   into   "that    universal   lan.nua.u'e  whicli 
may  last.''  iie  said,  "  a^  lon<:;  as  hooks  last."  for  very 
niueh  the  satue  reason  that  leads  a  man  to  pref(>r  a 
full  to  a  half-morocco  hindinii;.     It  was  felt,  indeed,  hy 
both  his  contemporaries  and   liims(>lf.   thoujih  nnicli 
less  stron<ily  by   them.   !)erhai)s,   than   by   him,   that 
I'int^lish  was  in  jmx'ess  of  becominii;,  and  that  the  very 
a,!!;e  and  tra<litions  of  Latin  W(>i-e  eff(>ctive  jiuarantees 
of  its  sta})ility  as  a  lit(M-ary  languaiiv.     To  his  friend 
Foby  Matthews  Bacon  wrote  shortly  befon^  his  death: 
*'  it  is  true,  my  labour  is  now  most  set  to  have  those 
works  which  1  liad  formerly  j)ublishe(l  well  translated 
into   Latin,   for  these   modern   lan^iuagcs  will  at   one 
time  or  other  play  the  bankrupt  with  books,  and  since 
1  have  lost  much  time  with  this  age,  I  would  l)e  glad, 
as  Gt)d  would  give  me  leave,  to  recover  it  with  pos- 
terity."    And    to    James    he    wrote    coticerning    tlu; 
Advancement  of  Learninfj:  "I  have  been  mitie  own 
Index  Expurcjatoriux,  that  it  may  be  read  in  all  places. 
For  since  my  end  of  jnitting  it  in  Latin  was  to  have  it 
read  everywhere,  it  had  been  an  absurd  contradiction 


Ix 


JNTRODVVTION 


i()  free  it  in  tlie  language  and  to  pen  it  up  in  the 
matter." 

This  reverence  for  Latin  shows  itself  not  only  in 
the  foregoing  expressions,  but  also  in  the  very  English 
of  the  E.smi/s.  Both  the  temper  and  dietion  of  the 
more  abstract  among  them  are  Latin  in  source.  In 
nearly  all  of  them  passages  from  the  works  of  Cicero. 
Tacilus.  N'irgil,  and  Livy  are  freely  quoted,  and  the 
Latin  cast  of  word  or  phrase  is  often  deliberately 
preferred  to  the  more  intelligil)le  vernacular.  Yet 
Bacon's  work  is  vigorously  Lli/.abethan,  for  all  that. 
Jn  his  most  "  classic"  moments  a  frankly  Saxon  phrase 
or  a  bit  of  blunt  humour  will  sometimes  assert  itself. 
Bacon  was  no  verbal  fo]j;  he  knew  what  he  wished 
to  say,  and  saiil  it,  if  now  with  brief  and  stately  elo- 
quence, because  that  must  have  seemed  to  him  the 
way  befitting  the  occasion;  or  if.  again,  witli  abrupt 
and  homely  directness,  because  that  manner,  too, 
would  at  times  lit  most  sincerely  the  matter  of  his 
discourse. 

It  is  j)()ssible,  of  course,  to  detect  and  discuss  the 
prime  elements  of  Bacon's  style.  To  insist  upon  a 
precise  characterization  of  his  style  is  more  ditlicult. 
Indeed,  as  Mr.  lleynokls  expresses  it,  "  the  fact  seems 
to  be  that  Bacon  had  at  all  times  almost  any  style 
at  command,  and  that  he  varies  his  st}  k>  with  the 
occasion,  l)ecoming  all  things  in  turn  so  as  to  cnsmx 
getting  a  hearing,  trying  one  experiment  after  another, 
and  giving  proof  of  mastery  in  each.  ...  To  speak 
ilierefoiv  of  Jiacun's  style  is  in  strict  terms  impos- 


■mipp 


^-m 


lyTRODVCTloN 


Ixi 


sible."  Vot  w(>  may  say  tlia  thdii^h  a  master  of 
stylos,  the  style  in  whieli  Bacon  uses  those  styles  is 
alwavs  one  and  reco.iiiii/al'le.  It  is  always,  in  th(^ 
nr)blest  nieaninfT  of  tho  ^\  rd.  an  austere  style.  - 
whether  han.i^hty.  hi^li  and  ))roud;  fvisp,  nervons. 
informational  and  epiirranimatie;  or  even  p;ra('i()usly 
conversational.  By  this  is  meant  not  merely  that 
his  utterance,  like  his  j)ersonality,  more  immediately 
wins  our  respect  than  our  affection,  that  his  disunity 
is  equal  to  every  situation,  and  tliat  he  does  not  secern 
to  invite  a  too  entlnisiastic  praise;  but  also  that 
these  very  (lualities  cover  others  less  willin<iiy  dis- 
played,—  honour,  ruth,  hope,  and  power.  I^acon 
seldom  unlocks  his  heart.  \oi  there  is  a  wav  of  aiv 
proachiiifj;  him  that  forestalls  unlocking. 

The  essays  at  larfje  are  temptingly  cpiotable,  as 
in  "Praise  is  the  reflection  of  virtue";  "Virtue  is 
like  a  rich  stone,  best  plain  set";  "Reading  maketh 
a  full  man;  conference  a  ready  man;  and  writing 
an  exact  man."  Vet  their  very  lack  of  elaboration 
makes  it  unsafe  to  quote  too  authoritatively  from 
them.  We  are  not  conscious  of  petlantry  or  posinj; 
in  these  "brief  notes,"  throut>h  which  Bacon  sj)eaks 
to  us  in  a  manner  more  human  than  that  of  the 
Novmu  Orqanum.  We  are  conscious,  rather  and 
always,  of  Bacon  himself,  of  his  essentia!  su})eriority 
to  tricks  and  I'uts  of  style,  of  his  little  wtn'ldly  pru- 
dences as  of  his  ri))er  and  larger  wisdom;  of  his 
concern  for  the  en\pirical  ego  as  of  his  interest  in  the 
soul  of  man.     In  short,  Bacon's  variously  haughty  and 


Ixii 


lyTRODVCriON 


Iniman  maniiors  may  succood  oacli  othor.  or  oven  at 
times  commhi.iile;  luit  of  liimsolf,  as  an  able,  willing, 
and  resourceful  eritie  of  life,  we  can  never  he  unmind- 
ful. He  is  '*  j)layin«i  the  game,"  and  he  intends  that 
his  readers  shall  learn  to  play  it,  too,  as  they  may  and 
can ;  and  so  he  seems  to  say  to  us  all:  ''  I  will  tell  you 
what  and  how  I  tliink  of  these  aftairs  when  in  my  own 
comj)a!iy.  and  soiiietimcs  you  shall  even  hear  how  I 
jrvl.  Vou  will  do  well,  i  think,  to  heed  me,  for  1  am 
able  lo  be  your  friend,  and  the  Academy  to  which  1 
itivite  vou  as  Platonic  pujiils  is  not  without  its  just 
title."" 

In  such  a  case  \\v  have  hardly  the  right  to  look  for 
exfremr  finish  and  final  synunetry  of  manner.  Ba- 
con's paniiiraphs  are,  indeed,  less  units  than  series, 
his  essays  less  tr(>atises  than  terse  eloquences.  And 
yet  it  is  a  mistake^  to  declare,  with  Church,  tha. 
"notiiing  can  be  inc'v  loose  than  the  structure  of  the 
essays.  There  is  no  art.  no  style,  almost,  except  in  a 
f(>w.  the  political  ones,  no  ord(>r:  thoughts  are  put 
down  and  left  unsuj)jK)rte'l,  unproved,  undeveloped." 
The  student  will  find,  instead,  upon  careful  examina- 
tion, that  the  essays  are  often  nuclei  of  ordered 
wholes.  ca|)able  of  being  taken  as  schemes  or  synopses. 
Though  the  flower  has  not  grown,  the  bud  is  full  to 
bursting,  and  this  analogy  is  the  more  reassuring  when 
we  consider  the  slowly  e\[)anding  growth  of  the 
original  essays.  Though  it  is  doul)tful  that  Bacon 
looked  upon  his  Ksxai/s;  at  any  time  as  finished 
])roducts,  even  (»f  their  kind,  it  is  not  doubtful  tliat 


mna 


L\TK(JDi'CTIO\ 


Ixiii 


<lio  law  of  tl»('ir  <in)\\th  was  ratlicr  that  of  tlio  rose 
than  of  tlio  htiystack. 

Take,  for  cxainplc.  l-lssay  I..,  "Of  Studies.''  one  of 
tlic  ori^hial  ten,  aniphficd  in  1()12  and  a^jjain  iii  1()25. 
Its  movement  is  suj)erl)ly  brief  and  simj)ie.  yet  not 
"  k)ose. "  In  all  throe  editions  it  conforms  itself 
to  the  following  considerations:  (I.)  The  \'alue  of 
Studies;  (11.)  The  Government  of  Studies.  (1)  in 
general,  (2)  in  j)artic'ular.  As  (>xami)k's  of  thouglit- 
unitv  we  may  select  almost  at  random  l^ssay  1., 
"Of" Truth,"'  an-l  X\T..  "Of  Atheism."  The  former 
ma v  be  thus  analvzed:  — 


>) 


1 


I.  The  l)ilHcu!t\-  of  "Finding"  Truth,  because  of 

1.  I^axity  of  belief 

2.  Love  of  imtruth 

(^0  Cause  (b)   Final  danger 

II.  The  Necessity  of  I'inding  Truth 

1.  In  matters  divine 

2.  In  matters  human 

III.  Conclusion 

The  structure  of  the  essay,  "Of  Atheism,"  may  be 
given  as  follows:  — 

I.  The  Incredibility  of  .\theism 

1,  Piiilosophically  considered 

2.  Seripturally  consulered 
li.     Practically  considered 

II.  Testimonies  against  Atheism 

1.  Fpicurus 

2.  Indians  of  the  Wes^ 


PPiP 


Ixiv 


IXTHOhVCTluN 


III.     Rarity  of  Atheism 
I\'.     Causes  of  Atheism 

V.  Ill  Etieets  of  Atheism 

1.  On  iiulividuals 

2.  On  the  nation 

antl 

VI.  Per  Contra :  (Jood  Effects  of  Theism 

1.  On  individuals 

2.  On  the  nation 

If  the  student  will  undertake  similar  analyses,  he 
will  find  little  difficulty  in  convincing  himself  of  the 
intellectual  compactness  and  coherence,  if  not  (»f  the 
weighetl  rhetorical  unity,  of  most  of  the  Esmij^. 

Bacoti's  repetitive  habit,  frequently  manifest  in 
liis  legal  speeches  and  politic  devices,  and  which 
seems  to  indicate  caution  and  conservatism  in  the 
management  of  his  mental  store,  appears  also  in  his 
literary  work,  plainly  enough  in  the  E.s.w//.s,  both 
in  theni.-'lves  and  in  relation  to  his  other  writings. 
He  "works"  an  allusion  or  an  illustration  as  often 
as  he  vvei!  may,  and  thai  without  precise  reference  to 
•its  oiiginal  point.  His  carelessness,  indeed,  in  the 
matter  of  quotation  has  been  often  censured.  —  his 
attribution  as  first-hand,  to  the  authors  using  them, 
of  maiiv  second-hand  passages,  exactly  as  one  might 
impute  to  Bacon  himself:  "  When  Plutus  is  ^ent  from 
Jupiter,  he  limps  and  goes  slowly;  but  when  he  is 
sent  from  Pluto,  he  rims  and  is  swift  of  foot."  Wo 
even  blunders  at  times  in  tl'c  ii:atter  of  source,  givino' 


mmmm 


lSTIi01)l(JT10S 


Ixv 


predit  wronirly.  and,  like  Lamb,  not  soldoni  adapts 
the  quotod  material  to  his  own  imnu'(liate  ends. 
Yet  it  is  beside  the  mark  to  insist  upon  censure  here. 
After  all,  re«;ard  for  precise  conformity  in  matters 
(;f  detail  is  a  ('omparati\ely  modern  feeling.  Th(> 
Elizabethans  generally  —  and  Lamb,  "the  last  of 
i!:('  Elizabethans'  — were  not  sticklers  for  formal 
exactness,  and  would  doubtless  display  —  had  they 
the  opportunity  —  a  certain  impatience  at  that 
order  of  contemporary  critic  ism  that  takes  delight 
in  hunting  down  examples  of  careless  allusion  and 
anachronism.  These  overlookings  testify  rather  to 
indifference  than  to  ignorance,  and  literal  /  lelity 
of  reference  is  often  cheerfully  foregone  because  it 
does  not  enter  into  the  artist's  thought  or  theory  of 
art. 

It  remains  to  speak  of  the  autobiographical  value 
of  the  Essays,  which  is  particularh  marked  in 
"Of  Nature  in  Men,"  "Of  Adversity,'"'  "Of  Friend- 
ship," "Of  Counsel,"  "Of  Ambition,"  "Of  Fortune," 
etc.  The  three  qualities  of  imagination,  humour,  and 
worldliness  —  in  the  better  meaning  of  the  term  — 
are  peculiarly  interesting  in  this  regard,  although 
the  second  of  these  is  least  ap})arent.  In  such  essavs 
as  "Of  Truth."  "Of  Goodness  and  Goodness  of  Na- 
ture." and  "Of  Aiheism,"  Haeon's  really  noble  im- 
aginings take  tentative  shape  and  wing  their  way 
through  caution  and  experience  to  something  of  tluat 
fre(Hlom  of  soul  that  expresses  itself  in  the  most 
adventurous  and  catholic  pa*5sages  (.f  the  Advanw- 


Ixvi 


INTnOhVCTION 


nicnf  of  LcarniiKi  .'iiid   (he  lirst   hook  of  the  Novum 
Otyanutn.        h\     the    cs.says     '"Of     Boldness,"     ''Of 
Isury,"  "Of  Friendship,'"'  "Of  Cnrdons,"  wo  have 
pleasin*;-  revelations  of  liacon'    willingness  and  ability 
to  sMiile:    '' P^specially  it   is  a  sport   to  see.  when  a 
hold  fellow  is  ont  of  eoMntenanee ;    for  that  puts  his 
face    into   a    most   shrunken    and    wooden    postur(>;" 
"So  as  that  opinion  nnist  be  sent  to  Ttopia;"   ".   .   . 
and    so    cure    the    disease    and    kill     the    patient;" 
"As  for  the  niakiniji;  of  knots  or  fi«:;ures  with  divers 
coloured   earths    .   .  .   they    be    hut   toys  :    you   may 
see  as  liood  si<ihfs  maiiv   tim<'s  in   tarts."     And  in 
"Of   (ireat    Place,"    "Of    Kmpire,"    "Of    the   True 
Greatness  of  Kin<rdoms  and  Estates,"  "Of  Suitors," 
"Of  Simulation  and  Dissimulation,"  "Of  Judicature,' 
etc..    the   equipped    lawyer   and    statesman    exploits 
his  inles  of  living-  often,  it  is  true,  in  Machiavellian 
f;;shio!i,  yet    with  an  openness  that   attests  its  own 
sincerity.     I'luler  the  almost  autocratic  rule  of  p]liz- 
aheth    a?id    .Jajnes    there   was    much   encouragement 
for   the    man    of   tact    and    discretion  —  a   condition 
discussed   at    some   length   in   the   preceding   Life  of 
Hacon  —  and     we    find     the    Esftdi/s    testifying     to 
liacon's  acc«i)iance  of  the  situation  and  offering  his 
readers  a  tested   pei'sonal   ))rogranHne  of  "high   be- 
haviour,"     ^'et    in    the    best    moments,    even    when 
handling   the   mo?-e  equivocal   among   these   themes, 
Bacon  shows  a  root  idealism  that   claims  our  rever- 
ence. 

To  conclude,  ample  testimony  to  Bacon's  clarity  of 


ISTROltl*   /70.V 


Ixvii 


tliou^lil.  «'(jual)l('  cntliolicily  of  tt'ni|)(>r  ami  essential 
goodness   of  soul,   is   td't'ordcd    in    tiic   Kssdi/s.     Tlicv 
hrcatlu'  a  spirit  of  serene  if  sii|)erior  jiood-w  ill,  jiikI  they 
(lej)eiul  upon  a  proud  sense  of  i)o\ver.      In  short,  they 
are  the  skilled,  sure  utterances  of  a  senior  comrade. 
Th(>ir  often  j)enetratin<i-  insight,  their  discretion,  their 
reserve,  make  us  aware  of  a  master.      Bacon's  know- 
ledfi'e    of     vhat    and  when    t  >   -'.iiit    never   shows    to 
better  advantage  tlian  in  the  ^   >./"v      He  recojinized, 
indeed,    as    all    ^rn^at    writers    •  nist    ;-eco<!:nize,    that 
lanjiuaii'e  is  a   means  only —    ii:    lot  a   conij)letf]y 
adc(|uate    means —  to    the    expression    of    thougli  , 
tliat  the  word  is  hut  a  symbol,  able  to  become  vital- 
ized, but  not  in  itself  vital.     However  little  and  local 
portions  of  the  I'Jsmi/fi  may  a{)p(\'ir  at  times  to  be, 
the  s|)irit  of  the  whole  is  si^en,  when  ri«»;htly  read,  to 
be  larii;e  and  lor  all.     Their  reminiscence,  tlieir  vision, 
and  their  tiuth  make  them  literatur*'.     To  the  young 
student,  seeking  hiiili  leadershij)  in  ihe  workl  of  ideas 
and  letters,  and  t(.  tiie  older  and  more  discriminative 
reader,  asking  oidy  that  each  of  his  gukles  and  friends 
shall   be   true   to   his  own     nspiration  and   interpret 
hims(^lf    while    he    interprets    life.    Bacon's    Essays 
will  remain  potent  in  charm  and  stimulus. 


i 

J 


BIHLUKiHAlMlV 


F(1R  ma^;aziiu^  articles  on  liacon  miuI  liis  works  tb.(* 
stiuloiit  sliould  <'onsull  Poole's  fiuh.r  to  PcnOdintl 
Litcrdf'irr.  Vav  extended  ti'eatnu'nt^  in  hooks  rot 
dev()t(>d  solely  t(»  l^acon  the  American  Library  Asso- 
ciation's An  Ituh.r  to  (imrrdi  Litrnttinr  (edited  hy 
William  I.  I'letcher.  M.A.)  will  proxe  nsei'nl.  n  ferrinir 
to  such  works  as  i'uller'^  Wortlili x  oj  En(ihi!hL  Lewcs's 
Iii()(]r(i})hic(tl  IIlMoni  oj  Philofto/t/ii/.  \Vhi])j)le's  Lltrra- 
tuir  oj  the  Atjc  of  I'Jh'zdluth,  and  hucas's  MorniHi/s  of 
Recess.  To  these-  may  h*'  added  Sidni-y  Lee's  (rrent 
Kniilis/ntu n  of  the  Si.vhcnih  (Uiitunj  and  John  Caird'f 
Tlie  SeicNti/ie  ('l)(if(iet<  r  oj  lioeon  in  his  (llassiow 
I'niversity   Addresses. 

The  followin<:;  list  is  intended  m(<rely  a<  a  suilahle 
workin<j;  hihlio^iraphx- :  — 

Spedtlinji:  and  l']llis:  Letters  and  Uj*  oj  luieon.     7\(ls. 

Lon^inajis. 
H.    \V.    ('liurch:     1.lj>    oj    Ho, an.     (\\\\ii\\A\    Men    of 

Letters. )      .Macinillan. 
Basil  Monta-iii:   Llj'  mxl  Works  oj  Htoon. 
.iolu!     .\ichol:      /ioeoH :      ///v     Ij'ji-    (uhI     /'hilosiiphf/. 

Lippincott. 

Ixix 


Ixx 


HI H LI 00  Ti A  PHY 


linc.n's     Works.      I,\lit(Hi     i,,.     |,;„j^  , 

"vols,     l.u.^nn.r.s.        '  *    Spoddm^r 

.Mafiiiiilaii.  ^     '  '• 

-   -.     J';<iit<'.!KvlMni„A.AM,ot(,I).I).     Lonnn,,ns 

•      ?  I^'-'     V«   ^^'Ivn!,.  J>..  A,.d.rs.,n.     MK '!,„■. 
—    •     lvlit(>(l  !)v  F.  (;  S(.j|,v  \r  \      \i.      •,       ^' 

■Macaiiiays  hss,nf  „„  />',,,•<»/,. 

Ilnrmnnn   f,f  (/„    h'ss(n/s       i;,()7    i (;•)<:       \,         .,, 

TI,o  ,n„sl   mn,pl,.|,.  list  „f  Hnnm-x  «„,-ks  is  th,( 
W.     In    ,1„.   vol,,,,,,.   ,,„l,lisl.,.,|    i„l,SS4,.o|,,,: 


Tin:   KIMSTLK    DHDICATOKV 

(ro    Tin;    TIIIKI)    AM»    I'INM,    inMIKtV    OK    TIIK    KSSAVS, 

i'tui,isiii:i»     iNDKi:    Tin:    slpkuvisiox     ui'    thk 

ALTIloli,    lOlT).) 


To  TIIK  TJniiiT  IIoNoi  It  viun   mv  vkuv  (;<><)i»  L<>iti>  tiik  Dikk 
nh    l}rt;KiN<;ii.\M    iiis  Guv*  i  .  l-<»ui>    Hn.ii    Aumikal    <»k 

KN(iI,AM». 

E.'Crlh  )it  Lord, 

Sdluiiiuii  says,  "A  unod  naiiip  is  as  a  precitnis  oiiitmt'iit;" 
aiiil  I  assure  .iiysclf  such  will  your  (iracv's  nanif  l>t'  with  pos- 
it ritv.      For  your  t'oriuiir  and  inrril   both  liavr  Imiu  t'inineut. 
AimI  you  have  plaiitcil  ihiii-s  that  arc  like  to  last.      I  do  now 
|Md>lisli  my   lvssa\s;  wiiirh,  of  all  my  dthcr  Wdiks.  have  been 
most,  current  ;   for  ihat,  as  il  seems,  they  come  hi>mc  to  im'n's 
buMiiess  and  bosoms.     I  have  enlarL'-e<l  them  both  in  number 
and  wciLilii  ;  so  tiiat  they  are  indeed  a  new  work.      1  Ihouuhl  it 
ihcrefoie  a-rei  aiiU'  to  my  atfection  and  olih^ation  to  your  (iracc, 
to  [iretix  your  name  hi  toic  tiii'in,  hoth  in   Knuiish  and   Latin. 
l'"or  I  do  conceive  that  Ihn  Latin  \  'lume  of  tliem  ( beitm  in  tl'*-* 
univei>:d  laiiiiuaire )   may  last,  as  Ioul;  a-  hooks   last.     My    Iii- 
sldiinifi'iit  I  dedicated  to  liic   Kiiii;   my  JIisfnr>i  >>f  llimii  tin 
Sii-iiilh  iwlii.li  I  iia\f  now  also  translated  into  Latin  )  and  my 
[loiiioiisof  Xdtund  //.'.s/-/ry  to  the  I'limi    ;   and  these  I  dedicate 
to  ■,  oiir  (Irace  ;  hcinu  of  the  best  fnuis  that  hy  the  u'ood  im-reasc 
which  (ioil  uives  to  my  lu'ii  and  lalxnirs  I  could  yield.    Ijod  lead 
\  (lur  ( irace  by  the  hand. 

Y<iur  (irace's  most  oliii_i  d  and  faithful  servant, 

FK.  SI".  ALU  AN 
Ixxi 


ESSAYS   Oli   COUNSELS   CIVIL 
AND    MOKAL 


■  01 


I.  OF   TRUTH 

"What  is  truth?"  said  josting  Pilate°;  and  would 
not  stay  for  an  answer,  (ortainly  thore  be  that 
dchght  m  giddii  ess;  arul  couiil  it  a  bonchigo  to  fix 
a  behef;  affecting"  free-will  in  thinking,  as  well  as  in 
acting.  And  though  the  sects  of  {)liil<)s()i)h(Ts°  of  that  5 
kind  be  gone,  yet  there  remain  certain  discoursing 
wits  which  are  of  the  same  vehis,  though  there  1)C  not 
so  much  blood  in  them  as  was  in  those  of  the  ancients. 
But  it  is  not  only  the  difhculty  and  labour  which 
men  take  in  finding  out  of  truth;  nor  again,  thatio 
wIkmi  it  is  found  it  im|)oseth  upon°  men's  thoughts, 
that  dotli  bring  lies  in  favour:  but  a  natural  though 
corruj)t  love°  of  the  lie  itself.  One  of  tlu^  later  scliool 
of  the  Grecians^  examineth  the  matter,  aiid  is  at  a 
stand  to  think  what  should  be  in  it  that  men  should  13 
love  lies:  where  neither  they  niak(^  for  pleasure,  as 
with  poets;  nor  for  advantage,  as  with  the  merchant; 
but  for  the  lie's  sak(\  But  1  camiot  tell:  this  same 
truth  is  a  naked  and  ojxmi  daylight,  that  doth  not 

B  1 


-'        A-6-.V.J1-.V  on  rr.rssHi.s  .nil.  n,,  ,„o/.m/. 

^i»HV    iilO    lll.-l.sk^    MJKl     „„„„„„.,.K.>.    ;„„|     |,i„,„„h         < 

nnl,  mayp.Tl,a,.s,.u„,M,,  H,,.,MH-.-..r  H  7     ; 

.so«HhlK.sMn,lay:   i.M,  i,  „m\,.,  H  ,:■';,■' 
■"';';''•"'"■"■'   "■■  ••.■.H..m..|..,    ,!,,.„    si„nv,    I,       j" 

,  ~      I,.,,,,  .,n    ,,,...,,   ,1 .,.   ,1,..,,   ir  ,   .     .  „      I 

-'    nu-M    poor   sln-nnk,.n    ,lun^>.    n,ll    o,    n.H    ,        ^ 
.in<l    m.lisposiiion.    ,,,,.1    ..mmL..,.; "< '."i  l,oi\ 


>■.  failed    pO(V<\- 
"'  '"lauiFiatioti 


■■••^"i;l  Y'  i'  i-*''"'  "ill,  ,l„.sl,a,|,m  ,„,,  li,.      H,,,  „■,■ 
it«rif.   t„a,.|„.  i,'  ,     '  ■    "'"■■''    ""'^-    ''""'    .i'"'«" 

Si„ril       I'i,-,   1  illiiiiiiiKili,,,,    ,,)■    |,i, 

"r         I   ,...„.  .,r,.,.,n,..,|  |i,,|„  .,,.„„  ,|,„  ,„,.,„  ,|,„ 


ESSAYS   OR   fOrySKLS   CIVIL    ASH    }fOh'AL  '6 


f;i('o  of  m;m ;    and   still   lie  hrcatluMh   ntul   itispirctl) 
jisiht    into   \\\v   I'.'K'O   ot'   iiis   chosen.     The    poet  ^    tluit 
l)(^:uitifio(l    'iio   sect'    that    was   otherwise    intVM'ior   to 
the  n^st.  saith  yet  excellently  well  ':   "  it  is  a  pleasnre 
to  stand  upon  the  shoi'e.  and  to  see  ships  tossed  upon") 
the  sea:   a  pl(>asnii'  to  stand  in  the  wind*  \v  of  a  cas!l(>. 
;ind  to  see  a  battle,  and  .he  advent  lU'es  thereof  I  ulow : 
hut   no  pleasure  is  coninirahh'  to  the  standin«i  u))on 
ilie  \:!nta,u;(^  {ground  o    truth"  (a  hill  not   to  he  com- 
nian<led.  and  where  1  h(>  ail  is  always  clear  and  serene)  l" 
"and   tt'  see  the  errors,  and  wanderiniis.  and  mists, 
and    tempests,    in   the   val(>   l)elow:"so   always,    that 
lliis   prosjMTi  hewjli   ))ity.  and   not  with  swelliim' (»r 
pride.     Cert.'iinly.  ii   is  liea\(Mi    upon    earth  to  ha\'e  a 
man's  miid   i  oxc  in  chaiity,  rest   in  pr<)\i  lence,  and  in 
tni'ii  upon  the  p"'*'-  "t"  'rutl'i. 

i'o  |);hs  f!'o?n  tlii'olooical  and  |)hilosophica1  truth 
to  the  truth  of  '-ivil  ousinoss,  it  will  he  acl  iioWi('di;ed. 
e\'en  hy  those  ilial  i)ractise  it  not,  that  clear  and 
rnund^  de:diii<!:  is  flie  honotir  of  man's  nature;  and  2»' 
that  mixture  of  I'nlsehootl  is  like  alloy  in  coin  of 
liold  and  siher:  which  ma\'  make  the  Uiet  ;!  work 
(iie  better,  but  i;  einbaseth  it.  l"t>r  these  windini; 
and  crooked  cour.ses  ar'>  the  ,i!;oinji.s  of  the  s(rj)rnt, 
which  iioeth  basely  upon  the  belly,  and  r/<'i  up.itr.'.' 
the  h'et.  '^i'here  is  no  \'ic(>  that  dot  I;  x'  coNrr  ;i 
man  with  shame  as  to  \)c  fotuxl  false  and  per!:dio"s. 
\nd  therefore  Montai^iio"  saith  prettily  when  he  in- 
(piirrd  ,h<'  reason  why  the  word  of  tlu^  lie  ^•lluuld 
b(     such    a    disjU'race.    ami    such    an     otiitnis    r-hanir:  ai 


4  ESSAYS   i)li   corxSKI.S   riviJ,    ,\x/,    MoRM, 

saith  \\i\  "If  it  1)0  well  wciiiliod,  to  say  tliat  a  man 
licfli  is  as  inuch  as  to  say  tliat  ho  is  bravo  towards 
(lo(l  and  a  coward  towards  mon."  For  a  lio  faces 
(rod,  and  shrinks  from  man.  Sm-oly  tho  wickodness 
Of  falsohood.  and  hroadi  of  faith,  cannot  possibly 
b(>  so  hiirhly  oxpn'sscMJ  as  in  that  it  sjiall  b(>  tho  last 
jwal  to  cal!  th(>  jiidi»inonts  of  (!od  upon  t h(^  ijjonora- 
tions  of  m  ,:  it  boin^  foretold  that  wIkmi  Christ 
Cometh  "^'i     hull  uui   (hid  faith  upon  the  eurth.'"^ 


II.     OF   DEATH 

10  Mex  foar  death  as  r-hildren  fc^r  to  o;o  in  tho  dirk; 
and  as  that  natural  fear  in  ehildroti  is  increased  with 
tales,  so  is  the  other.  Certainly,  the  contemplation  of 
death,  as  tho  wa;r(>s  of  sin  and  j)assaf!;e  to  another 
world,  is  hoiy  and  rejiiiion-;;    j)ut  tho  fear  of  it,  as  a 

i.">tribut(^  due  unto  natui'e.  is  weak.  Vet  in  religious 
mcvlitations  th{i-e  \<  soniotiiues  mixture  of  vanity 
and  of  superstitir)n.  \o\\  shall  r(Md  in  some  of  the 
friars'  books  of  mortification.^  that  a  man  should 
think  with  himself  wliat  tho  ))ain  i-  if  he  ha\-e  btit  his 

'-'oiino-ors  (  iid  j)r(>ss(^l  or  torture(l,  and  thereby  imaji;i»u' 
what   tho  pain-  of  death  are.  when  the  wliok^  b<.iiv 
corrupte(l    atid   dissolved;     when    m.iiiy    times   (ieath 
passeth  with  loss  pain  than  the  torture  of  .,  I:;,!)-   foi 
the  tnost   vital   parts  ar(^  not    tho  (juick-    :    ot   serr-v'. 

2v\nd   by   him   that    .^pake  onl>'  as  a    philo    •!  t.a    a     I 
natu'-al  man  it  was  well  said.    "  I'oinpa'  mon,    ui;  :>■ 


t.sSAi's  on  rniys/n.s  I  nil.    i.v/'  mdhai. 


tenvu  qiuiiJi   mors   ip-^a 


(Iroaii-  and  (•(Hivulsioiis^ 


I 

« 


id 


discoloun'il    face,   and    iVit'iuls   wcepini:-,   a'.ul 


blacks.'^   ami   ohsiHiu'Ks,    and    \\\v    liki',   -Iimw    death 

terrible. 

It  is  worthy  the  observing,  tliat  tliere  is  no  passions 
ill  the  mind  of  man  so  weak,  but  it  mates  and  masters 
the  fear  of  deatii;    and    therefoie  dealii   is   no  such 
terrible  enemy,  when  ;i   man    h'lh  so  many  attend- 
ants  about    him    that   can  win   liie  combat   oi  liim. 
Uevenj^e    triumphs    over    death;      love    sli^dits     it;i<i 
honour   aspiretii    to   it;   jirief   liielh    to   it;   fear    pre- 
occupateth*'   it:    nay.  we  read,  after  ()lho°  the  i\n- 
peror  had  slain  himself,  pity,  which  is  the  teiuleresi 
of  affections,  provoke«l  many  to  die.  out  of  mere  com- 
passion to  their  si>\(M'eiun.  tmd  as  the  truest  lort  oil.' 
foll(>wers.      \ay.  Seneca''  adds  niceness  ;ind   satiety: 
"('(»iata°   (piamdiu    eadiMu    feceris :     UK-ri    vdle,   non 
tantum  fort  is,  ;iut  miser,  sed  etiam  fastidiosus  potest." 
A  man  would  die.  thouiili  \\v  were  iieithci'  valiaitt  nor 
mi>t'rabli\   only    upon    a    wcariii(-ss    to   do    the   sam(>_'(i 
ttiini!;  so  i.ft  over  and  over,      li   is  no  less  woiilix    to 
()bsir\(%    how    little    alteiatioti    in    ^ood    spirits    the 
approaches  of  deal!;   make;    for  they   ap})ear  to  be 
the  same  men  till  the  last  instant.     Au.nustus  Ca-sar" 
died    in    a    <'omphment  :      "Lixia."'    conju^ii    nostri-jr. 
memor   vive.   et    vale."     Tiberius^   ifi   dissimulation; 
as  Tacit  US'"  saith  of  him:  •'.lam"  'rib»M-ium  vires  et 
corpus,    non    dissimiilatio,    desei-ebant .''      \espasian' 
in  a  jest;    sittin.U'  upon   tiie  slonl:    "I  t""  puto,   l)eii>- 
,io."     (lalba-  with  a  seulenci-:     '  reri,"  si  ex  re     il  ;■» 


ESSAYS   OR   COrXSKLS   ilVU.    AS 


DO 


puii  U 


omain 


lioldiiii;  forth  lii? 


/>    MOHAL 


•k 


N'vcrus''  in  (k'spatd, 


i  lorrn  ins  nor-k.     Sr^piimiiis 
Adcsfc/   >1  (jiiij  inihi  icstat 
a^iciuiimi;"    and  the  like. 

Certainly  the  Stoics^  Ixvstowcd  too  mucli  cost  upon 
0 (loath,  and  hy  their  lircat   preparations  inadi    it   ap- 
JM'ar  more   IVarfui.        Hcikt  saith   he.     "(^1;°  fineni 
vita'  extroinuni  inter  niunera  ponat  natura'."     It  is  as 
natiu-al  (o  die  as  to  he  horn;    and  to  a  little  intan't, 
|)erhaps.  the  one  i-,  ...  painful  as  the  other.     He  ihat 
lodies  in  an  eanies-  ,.,n-suit  is  Iik(>  one  that  is  wounded 
in  hot  hlood,  who.  for  the  tiife.  scane  hvls  the  hurt  • 
and  th(>refore  a  nn-nd  fixe.l  and  Lent  upon  so.neulial' 
that    IS  uood   d,,tii  avert    the  dolours  of  death.      P,ut 
aix.ve   all,    [..■lieve   it.    the  sv.eetesl    eaiitiele   is   .V//m- 
I.m/,/,/, //,...-   ul.eii   a    man    hath   obtained   worthv  ends 
■iiul    cxpecialions.      l),.ath    hath    this    also,    that    it 
openeth   the  uate   to  ^r,,,,,!   fame,   and   e.\tin<ruisheth 
envy.       "Hxtinctus"  amahitur  idem." 


IIT.     OF    IXITV    I\    Hi:!JC;iO\ 

Hett(;i()x  l„>inir  the  chief  band  of  iiuman  societv. 
-•Oil  is  a  iiappy  ihiiiii'  when  itself  is  W(>ll  contained  within 

the  true  hand  of  unity.     The  (piarrels  and  division. 

about    re;ioi,yn   ^^■olv  evils   unknown   to   the  heathen. 

Tiie  reason  was.  b(>cause  the  relitrion  of  the  heathen 

e.-nisisted  ratluM"  in  rites  and  ceremonies  than  in  any 
-••-constant  belief.      I'\,r  you  may  inia^dne  what  kind  (if 

laith  theirs  was,  when  the  chief  doctors  and  fathers 


a 


KSSAYS   OR   (fJiySELS   CIVIL    AXI>    MOh'AI. 


of  their  clmiT'li  woro  the  poets.  But  tlie  true  (  Uh\  liatli 
tills  attribute,  that  he  is  a  jealous  (lod:  and  therefore 
his  worshij)  and  rehjjioii  will  endure  no  niJMure  nor 
part!ieJ".  \V(»  shall  therefore  spe;»k  a  few  words  eon- 
eerninti;  the  unity  of  tli(^  Cliurch:  whal  are  the  fruits", 
thereof,  what  the  hounds,  and  what  the  nieans. 

The  fruits  of  unity,  n(>\t   unto  the  w<'ll-pl(.Msinji  of 
(lod.  which   is  all   in  all.  an'  two:    the  one  towards 
those  thai  are  without  the  Church  :  the  other  towards 
those  that    ai'e  within,      l-'or  the  former:  it    is  certainly 
that  heresies  and  schisms  are  of  all  others  tin*  <ireat- 
est  scandals;    yea,  more  than  coriMiption  of  maimers. 
\'\)V  as  in  the  natural  hody.  a  wound,  ot   s(tlution  of 
continuity."  is  wor>e  tliaii  a  corrupt    luniiour;    so  in 
the  spiritr.al.      So   that    nothinii'  doth    so   much   keep  i". 
men  out    of  the  Church,   and  drive   mc  i   (tiit    of  the 
Church,  as  hreach  of  unity;    and   t  luMcfote.  whenso- 
e\'er  it    conietli  to  that    pass    that    one  saiili     "  i'lcce" 
in  deserto;"    another  saith,  "  llcce"  in  penetralihus;" 
that   is,  when  some  men  s(>(»k  Christ    in  the  conv(Mi-'jn 
tides  of  heretics,  an<l  others  in  an  outward  face  of  a 
'hurch,  that  voice  had  need  continually  to  sound  in 
iiKMi's  ears.  "  Xolite  exire." '^  no  not  out.     The  doc- 
;or°  of  the  (icMitiles.  tlie  propri'-ty  of  whose  vocation 
drew   hiiri   to  ha\''^  a  s|)ecial  care  of  those  without .  j.". 
saith:    "If  an  heathen  come  in.  and  hear  you  speak 
with  several  tongues,  will   he  not   say   that    you   are 
mad?"     And  certainly  it  is  little  better  wIumi  atlieists 
and  profane  j>ersons  do  hear  of  so  many  discordant 
and  contrary  opinions  in  reliirion:   it  doth  avert  theni;«] 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


145 
1 5.0 
156 


2.8 


■  to 


1.4 


2.5 
2.2 


2.0 


1.8 


1.6 


^     APPLIED  IM/1GE     Inc 


1653   East   Main   Street 
Rochester,   New   York         14609 
(716)   482  -  0300  -  Phone 
(716)    288  -  5989  -  Fax 


USA 


8  ESSAYS   on   ((fl'XSKLS  CIVIL    A XI)    MORAL 

from  tho  Clmrc-li,  and  niaketli  thoni  ''to  sit  down 
in  the  chair  of  the  scornors."  °  It  is  but  a  iifrht 
thin^  to  Ik'  vouchod  in  so  serious  a  manner,  hut 
yet  it  expresseth  well  the  (ieformit>-:  then^  is  a  mas- 
5ter  of  scoflinji:.^  that  in  his  catalo'irue  of  hooks  of  a 
fei.2:n(-d  lihrary  sets  down  this  title  of  a  hook,  "Th(> 
iMorris-dance°  of  Heretics."  For  indeed  every  sect 
of  them  hath  a  diverse  posture  or  crin^^e  hy  them- 
selves, which  cannot  hut  move  derision  in  worldlin<is 
10  and  depraved  politics. °  who  an;  apt  to  contemn  holy 
tliin<j:s. 

As  for  the  fruit  towards  those  that  are  within,  it  is 
peace;  wliich  containeth  infinite  })lessinfis:  it  estah- 
lisheth  faith;  it  kindleth  chai-ity;  the  outward  peace 
inof  the  (Imrch  distilleth  into  i)eace  of  conscience; 
and  it  turncnh  the  lahours  of  writin*]:  and  reading  of 
controv(M-sies  into  treatises  of  mortification  and 
devotion. 

Concerning  the  l)ounds  of  unity:    the  true  placing 
20  of  them  import eth  exceedingly.     There  appear  to  he- 
two  extremes.     For  to  certain  zelants°  all  speech  of 
pacification   is  odious.     "Is  it    peace.  Jehu?     What 
hast  thou  lo  do  with  jx^ice?    turn  thee  hehind  m(>.''^ 
Peace   is   not   the   mattei.   hut   following  and   party. 
2.-, Contrariwise,  certain  Laodiceans^  and  lukewarm  per- 
sons think  they  may  accotnmodate  jjoints  of  religion 
hy  middle  ways,  and  taking  j)art  of  hoth.  and  witty 
reconcilements:    as  if  ihoy  would  make  an  arhitre- 
ment  hetween  Cod  and  man.     Hoth  these  extremes 
30 are  to  be  avoided;   which  will  be  done,  if  the  Icairur 


LSS.lYS   HU   ('(jCXSKLS   VI  ill.    ASh   MuHAI. 


9 


.)f  Ctiristians,  poniunl  hv  our  Saviour  liinisrlf,  were, 
in  the  two  cross  clauses  thereof,  soundly  and  {)hiinlv 
expounded:    "He  that  is  not  with  us  is  n^iainst  us;" 
and  a,<;ain,  "He  tliat  is  not  a.i^ainst    us  is  with  us;'" 
that  is,  if  the  points  fuiuhunental.  and  of  si'l)stance,  iii.". 
reunion,  w'ere  truly  discerned  and  distinguished  from 
points  not  merely  of  faith,  hut  of  (»pinion.  order,  or 
;',()0(1  intention.     This  is  .-t  tiling  may  seem  to  manv 
a  matter  trivial,  and  done  already;    hut   if  it  were 
done  less  partially,  it  would  he  (  inhraced  more  .iicn- id 
crallx'. 

Of  this  1  may  ^ive  only  this  advice,  nccordin<i-  to 
my  small  model.  Mvn  t)u^ht  to  take  heed  of  rendino; 
(lod's  Church  hy  two  kinds  of  controversies.  The 
(me  is,  when  the  matter  of  the  point  controverted  i.n 
is  too  small  and  li^ht,  not  worth  the  heat  and  strifi- 
nhout  it,  kindled  only  hy  contradiction.  Tor,  as  it  is 
noted  by  (me  of  the  Fathers,  Christ's  coat  ind(H'd  had 
no  seam,  but  the  Church's  vesture  was  of  divers 
colours-  whereupon  he  .saith:  "Jn  veste°  varietas  .sit,2(i 
scissura  non  sit;"  they  be  two  (hin-is,  unity  and 
uniformity.  The  oth(>r  is,  when  the  matter  of  the 
point  controvert(Hl  is  o;r(>at,  but  it  is  driNcn  to  an 
over-great  subtilty  and  obscurity,  so  that  it  beM'ometli 
a  tiling  rather  ingenious  than  s  bstantial.  A  man 'j: 
that  is  of  judgment  and  understanding  sliall  some- 
times hear  ignorant  men  differ,  and  know  well  within 
himself  that  tho.se  which  .so  differ  mean  one  thing, 


and  yet  they   them.selves  would   never  agree.     An(i 
if  it  come  so  to  pass  in  that  distance  of  judgment 


:aj 


10 


/..SN.nVS   OH  COIWSELS   cniL   AXD    MORAL 


wliicli  is  hctwcoii  ?j);>n  and  innn,  shall  we  not  think 
that  (1()(1  ahovc,  t!i;  knows  the  heart,  doth  not  dis- 
cern that  frail  nion,  in  some  oi"  their  contradictions, 
intend  the  same  tliin,t>-.  and  acce})teth  of  both?  The 
".  natit.'e  of  such  controver.si(»s  is  excellently  expressed 
In-  St.  Paul,  in  the  \varnin<i  and  j)rece})t  that  he  giveth 
concernin<'-  the  same:  "J)evita°  profanas  vocum 
novitates.  et  oppositiones  falsi  noniinis  scientiie." 
Men  create  oppositions  which  are  not,  nnd  put  theni 

10 into  ni>w  terms  .so  fixed,  as.  whereas  the  meaning 
ou^ht  to  uovern  the  term,  the  term  in  effect  <i<)vern- 
{>tli  the  meanin«i-.  There  be  also  two  false  peaces  or 
unities:  the  one.  when  the  peace  is  grounded  but  upon 
an  implicit  ignoranct*;   for  all  colours  will  agree  in  the 

15 dark:  the  other,  wIhmi  it  is  j)ieced  up  upon  a  direct 
admission  of  contrari(»s  in  fundamental  )X)ints.  For 
truth  and  falsehood  in  such  things  an>  like  tli(>  iron  ami 
clay  in  the  toes  of  Xebuchadnezzar's  image°:  they 
may  cleave,  but  they  will  not  inc()r})()rate. 

•ji)  Concerning  the  means  of  j)r()curing  unitv:  men 
must  beware  that  in  the  procuring  or  muniting°  of 
religious  unity,  they  do  not  dissolve  and  deface  the 
laws  of  charity  and  of  human  s()ci(>ty.  There  be 
two   swords    arnongst    Christians,    the    spiritual    and 

ii.T  temporal,  and  both  have  their  due  office  and  place 
in  the  maintenance  of  religion.  Hut  we  may  not 
take  up  the  third  sworil,  which  is  Mahomet's°  sword, 
or  lik(>  unto  it :  that  is,  to  propagate  religion  by  wars, 
or  i)y  sanguinary  persecutions  to  force  cojusciences ; 

;«)  (except  it  be  in  cases  of  ov(>rt  scandal,  blasphemy,  or 


ESSAYS   OR   COrXSELS   i  IVIL    AM)    MORAL 


11 


'uitorniixturo    of   iiractico    ap;ains 


t    t!i 


dale 


mucli 


t( 


(litions.    to   autliorizo    roiispiracic^ 


nourish 
and  rohollions,  to  ])ut  tlio  sword  iiHo  tnc  )i('oi)ios 
liands,  and  tho  liko.  tcMidinii  to  tho  siihvcrsioii  of  all 
<»-overnment,  which  is  tho  ordinance'  of  (iod.  Tor') 
this  is  but  to  dash  tho  first  tabic  auainst  tho  second; 
and  so  to  consider  men  as  Christians  as  w(>  forgot 
that  thov  aro  nion.  Lucr(>tius  th(>  poet,  when  ho 
behold  the  act  of  A<iain(Mnnon,^  that  could  (>nduro 
the  sacrificing;  of  his  own  dauiihter.  exclaimed:  lo 

"Tantiun"'  rcligio  potiiit  suiulnt'  iiial<n-um.'' 

What  would  he  hav(>  said  if  \\v  had  known  of  tho 
niassacro°  in  Fran.co.  or  tho  })owdor  treason'^  of 
I']n<i;lan«l  ?  He  would  hav(^  been  seven  times  more 
ojiicuro  and  atheist  than  he  was.  I'or  as  tlio  tom-i'' 
j)oral  sword  is  to  bo  drawn  with  «ireat  circumspection 
in  cases  of  roli.iiion,  so  it  is  a  thin.u"  monstrous  to  jnit 
into  lie  hands  of  tho  common  pe<)pl(\  I.(>t  that  be 
loft  unto  tho  Anabaptists^  and  other  furies,  it  was 
^roat  blasphemy  wIkmi  the  devil  said.  "I  will  ascend  Jfl 
and  bo  liko  tho  Hi<ihest;"  but  it  is  <>reater  blas- 
phemy to  p{M-sonat(^  (Iod,  and  brinp;  him  in  sayin.ir, 
"  I  will  descend,  and  bo  liko  th(>  |trince  of  darkness." 
And  what  is  it  bettor  to  make  the  cnuse  of  ieli<iion  to 
descend  to  the  cruel  and  exe(r'd>le  actions  of  mur-iM 
doring;  princes,  butchery  of  people,  and  subversion  ot 
states  and  ffovornmonts ?  Sur(>ly  this  is  to  brin.i^ 
down  tho  Holy  (Ihost,  instead  of  the  likeness  of  a 
dove,  in  the  shape  of  a  vulture  or  raven;   and  to  sot, 


12        /AS'.SM  )-.S'   OH   (orXSKLS   <  IVIL    .{NJ>  MORAL 

out  of  ino  bark  of  a  Christian  Church,  a  flag  of  a  bari< 
of  pn-atos  antl  assassins.     Tliei-oforo  it  is  most  neces- 
sary that  th(  Ciuirch  by  doctrine  and  decree,  princes 
by  tiicn-  sword,  and  all  learnings,  both  Chr^  tian  and 
smora     as  by  their  mercury  rod.  do  damn  and  send 
to  Iiell  tor  (>ver  those  lacN°  and  opinions  tendin-  to 
the  supp(.rt   of  the  sanuv;    as  hath  been  alreadv  in 
^•nod     part     done.     Surely     in     counsels    concerniiig- 
religion,  that  counsel  of  the  apostle  \vould°  be  pre'^ 
lofi.MMl,  -  Ira^  honiiuis  non  imj)ler  justitiam  Dei."     And 
It  was  a  notabl(^  ol)ser^•alion  of  a  wise  father,"  and  no 
less   m-enuoush   eonfess(>d.    "that    those  which   held 
and  persuaded  pressure  of  consciences  were  commonly 
intcrcfesed"  therein  themselves  for  their  own  ends  "  ' 


IV.    OF  REVENGE 

15     Revexge  is  a  kind  of  wikl°  justice,  which  the  more 
a  man  s  natur(>  runs  to,  the  more  ought  law  to  weed 
It  out.     For  as  f„r  the  first  wrong,  it  doth  but  offend 
t..e  law;    but  th(^  revenge  of  that  wrong  putteth  the 
kiM  out  of  ofliccv     Certainly,  in  taking  revenge  a  man 
-"M^  but  even  with  his  enemy;    but  in  passing  it  over 
h(>  IS  superior:    for  it   is  a  prince's  part  to  pardon. 
And  Sok,m()n.  I  am  sure,  saith.  "It  is  the  glorv  of  a 
man  to  pass  by  an  offence."  ° 
That  which  is  past  is  gone  and  irrevocable  and  wise 
2.-m(Mi  have  enough  -o  do  with  tilings  present  and  to 
<"ui(>:    iJierefore  ti  'y  do  but   trille  witli  themselvey 


•^ 


KSSAYS   O/;    ((fl.WSKLS   ilVll.    AM>     \l<>i:M. 


\[\ 


thai  hiliour  in  past  inattors.  TIutc  is  iu»  man  docth 
a  wron^^for  the  wrouj^'s  sake:  l«iit  thorol>\  to  pur- 
chase hiniseh"  jn-ofit.  or  pleasure,  or  honour,  or  the 
like.  Therefore  why  should  I  be  an^ny  with  a  man 
for  loving-  himself  better  than  me?  And  if  any  mans 
should  du  wron^-  merely  out  of  ill-nature,  why.  yet  it 
is  but  like  the  thorn  or  briar,  whirh  prick  or  scratch, 
because  they  can  do  no  ollur. 

The   most    tolerable   sort    of   rev(>nge    is   for   those 
wroniis  which  tluMV  is  no  law"  to  remedy:    but  theni.l 
let  a  man  take  heed  the  rexeh^e  be  such  as  'here  is 
no  law  to  punish;   else  a  man's  enemy  is  still  before- 
hand, and  it  is  two  for  one.° 

Some,  when  they  take  revenm-.  are  desirous  the 
party  should  know  whence  it  cometh;  this  is  thei."> 
more  generous.  V'.v:  tlie  delifiht  sceinelh  t(t  l>e  not 
so  nuich  in  doing'  th(»  hurt  as  i;;  makinu  the  i)arty 
re[)ent.  I^ut  base  and  crafty  cowards  an-  like  the 
arrow  that   tlieth  in  the  ilark. 

('osmus,°  Duke  of  Florence,  had  a  desperate  say- 20 
ing  against  perfiilious  or  negkn'ting  friends,  as  if  those 
wrongs  were  unj)ardonable:  "  Vou  shall  read,"  ^aith 
he,  ''that  we  are  comnuuKle<l  to  forgive  our  eni-mies; 
but  you  never  read  that  we  are  commanded  to  for- 
give our  friends."  But  yet  the  s})irit  of  .Iob°  w:)s  in  a  ii5 
better  tune :  ''  Shall  • . e,"  saith  he.  "  take  good  at  God's 
liaiids,  and  not  be  content  to  take  evil  also?"  And 
so  of  friends  in  a  j)roportion.  This  is  rcrtain,  that  a 
man  that  studietli  n'venge  keeps  his  own  wounds 
green,    which    otherwise    would    heal    and    do    well,  .mi 


14         ESSAYS   OH   (OrySE/.S   VIVIL   AM)   MORAL 

Public  rov(Mi<ivs  ;iiv  for  tho  most  |)art  fortuiiato:  an 
that  for  tlu^  'Icadi  of  (  asar.  for  tlic  dratli  of  Pcrti- 
nax,°  for  the  (l(>afli  of  H(>iirv  III.  of  Franco,  and 
many  nioro.  Hut  in  |)rivatc  ivvcn.uvs  it  is  not  so. 
r.  Xa\',  rather,  viMdictivc  persons  live  the  hfc  of  witches, 
who,  as  they  are  niiscliievous,  so  end  they  infurtu- 
nate. 


V.    OF  ADVERSITY 

It  was  a  hi<2;li  spc^ech  of  Seneca. °  after  tho  manner 
of  the  Stoics. °  that  tho  <i-ood  t!iin<>s  whicli  belon«!;  to 

ioi)rosj)erity  are  to  be  wished,  but  tho  <iood  thin<i;s  that 
belong-  to  adversity^  are  to  bo  admired.  "  i^ona° 
rerum  secunchuum  optal)iha.  advorsaruni  mirabiha." 
(Vrtainly  if  miracles  bo  the  conunand  over  .Vature, 
they  a))p(>ar   most    in  adversity.     It  is  yet  a  lii.uhor 

ir, speech  of  his  than  the  other  (nnich  too  hioji  for  a 
heathen),  ''It  is  true  .iiroatnoss  to  have  in  one  tho 
frailty  of  a  man  and  the  secm-ity  of  a  (Jod."  "  Vore 
ma,i>-num,°  hal)oi-e  tVa.iiilitatem  hominis.  securitatom 
Dei."     This  would  have  done  better  in  j)oesy,  where 

.'0  transcendencies  are  moiv  allowed.  And  tho  poets,  in- 
deed, have  boon  busy  with  it;  for  it  is  i?i  effect  the 
thin<>-  which  is  fi-^urod  in  that  strangle  fiction  of  the 
ancient  poets  which  soemetli  not  to  be  without  mys- 
tery;   nay,  and  to  have  some  approach  to  tho  state  of 

2.-) a  Christian:  that  II(m-cu1os.°  whoii  he  went  to  unbind 
l'romoth('us°  (by  whom  human  nature  is  ref)resented). 


sailed  th(>  loniith  of  tl 


le  liroat  ocean  m  an  earthen  pot 


mm 


KSSAYS   OR   COCXSKLS   (I  ML    AM)    MORAL 


\r^ 


orpitf'her;  livoly  doscrihinu' Christ ian  roscilutioii  that 
sailcth  in  tlio  frail  bark  of  the  !l(>sii  tliroiijih  the  waves 
of  tlie  world. 

But  to  spoak  in  a  nioan°  :  tlio  xirtiic  of  prosperity 
is  temporance.  the  virtue  of  advcM'sity  is  fortitude."* 
which  in  morals  is  tin*  more  JK^roical  virtue.  I'ros- 
p(M'ity  is  the  hk^ssiui;-  of  [\\v  Old  TcstanuMit .  adversity 
is  tli(^  hlessin<i;  of  the  V-w,  which  carrieth  the  •;reat(M' 
benediction  and  the  (  i    velat  ion  of  ( lod's  favour. 

Vet,   even    in    the   (/i«        >sfanient.    if  you    listen    toio 
David's   har))'^  you   .-^lia!!    hear  as    many    h(>arse-lik(^ 
airs  as  carols;   and  th(>  pencil  of  the  Holy  (Ihost  hath 
laboured  more  in  describing  tlu^  afflict ioJis  of  .Job  than 
the  feliciti^'s  of  Solomon.      Prosjierity  is  not   without 
many  fears  and  distastes,  and  adversity  is  not  without  15 
comforts   and   hojies.     We  see   in    needle-works   antl 
embroideries  it  is  more  })leasin<i'  to  have  a  liv(>ly  work 
upon  a  sad  and  solenm  ground  than  to  have  a  dark 
and    melancholy    work    u))on    a    lightsome    ground: 
judge,  therefore,  of  the  pleasure^  of  the  heart  by  the 20 
j)leasure  of  the  eye.     Certainly  virtue  is  like  precious 
odours,    most   fragrant    when    they    are    incensed    or 
crushed;  for  prosperity  doth  b(\st  discover°  vice,  but 
adversitv  doth   oest  discover   virtue. 


VI.    OF  SIMl  LATIOX  AND  DISSIMULATION 

DissiMUL.\Ti()\   is  but  a  faint   kind  of  policy   or '2r 
wisdom;  for  it  asketh  a  strong  wit  and  a  strong  heart 
t(^  know  wlien  to  tell  truth  and  to  do  it.     Tlierefore 


16 


ESSAYS    UJi  CorXSELS   CIVIL    AND   MORAL 


it  is  tli('  weaker  .sort  of  politios"  that  aro  the  grea^ 
dissemblers. 

'J  ac'itus°  saitii.  "  F.ivia  sorte(l°  well  with  the  arts 
of  her  husbaiHl  and  dissimulation  of  her  son;"  at- 
5  triliiitinjj;  arts  or  policy  to  Auirustus°  and  dissimu- 
lation to  Tiberius. °  And,  ajiain.  when  Mueianus 
eneouraireth  \'espasian°  to  take  arms  against  \'itellius.° 
he  saith,  "We  rise  not  against  the  piercinir  judgment 
of  Aujiustus  n(»r  the  extreme  eautioti  or  closeness  of 

10 Tiberius."  These  |)ro!)erties  of  arts  or  policy,  and 
dissinuilation  or  closeness,  are  indeed  habits  and 
^acuities  several,  and  to  !•  distin2:uishe(].  For  if 
a  man  have  that  penetration  of  jiidjiment  as  he  can 
discern  what  thinirs  are  to  be  laid  o|)en  and  what  to 

15  be  secreted,  and  what  to  be  showed  at  half-lights, ° 
and  to  whom  and  when  (which,  in«'  'cd,  are  arts  of 
state  antl  arts  of  life,  as  Tacitus  well  calleth  them),  to 
him  a  habit  of  dissinuilation  is  a  hindrance  and  a 
poorness.     Hut  if  a  man  camiot  obtain  to  that  judg- 

20ment,  then  it  is  left  to  him.  generally,  to  be  close  and 
a  di.ssembler.  For  where  a  man  cannot  choose  or 
vary  in  jiarticulars,  there  it  is  good  to  take  the  safest 
and  wariest  way  in  general;  like  the  going  softly  by 
one  that  cannot  well  see.     Certainly  the  ablest  men 

2o  that  ever  w(M"e  have  had  all  an  openness  and  frank- 
ness of  dealing,  and  a  name  of  certainty  and  veracity; 
but  tluMi  tlu-y  wviv  lik(^  horses,  well  managed-;  for 
they  could  tell  passing  well  when  to  stop  or  turn. 
And  at  such  times,  when  the\v  thought  the  ease  in- 

sodeed  requinMl  dissinuilation.  if  then  they  used  it,  it 


ESSAYS   (t}{   CfirsSKI.S   I  IVIL    AXlj   MuUM.        J 7 


o'MW  to  pass  tliat  tlic  f(>rni<>r  opinuni  sprrad  al>ri)a(.l 
ot'  tlioir  irood  faith  and  clcanu'ss  of  doaiiii<i-  made 
tlu'in  almost  invisible. 

There  l)e  three  de«;rees  of  this  hidin.Ji;  and  veilinii; 
of  a  man's  self.  The  first,  eloseiiess.  reservation,  and 5 
secivcv.  wiien  a  man  leaveth  himscif  without  obser- 
vation, or  without  hold  to  be  taken  what  lie  is.  'V\\v 
second,  dissimulation  in  the  r)e<iaiivc',  wIkmi  a  man 
lets  fall  si.ijns  and  ar<>uments  that  he  is  not  that  h(>  is. 
And  the  third,  simulation  in  the  attirmative.  when  n  w 
man  industriously^  and  expressly  feigns  and  pretends 
to  be  that  he  is  not. 

{•or  the  first  of  these,  soereey :  it  is  indeed  th(> 
virtue  of  a  confessor;  and  assure(lly  the  secret  man 
lieareth  many  confessions,  for  who  will  open  himself  i, 
to  a  blab  or  a  babbler?  Hut  if  a  man  be  thought 
secret  it  inviteth  tliscovery.  as  the  .  .ore  dose  air 
sucketh  in  tiie  more  open.  And  as  in  confession  the 
revealino;  is  not  for  worldly  use,  but  for  the  ease  of  a 
man'.s  heart,  so  secret  men  come  to  the  knowliHii^e-jo 
of  many  things  in  that  kin(P;  while  men  ratiier  dis- 
chai-ge  their  minds  than  impart  their  minds.  In 
few  words,  mysteries  are  tlue  to  secrecy,  liesides, 
to  say  truth,  nakedness  is  uncomely  as  well  in  mind 
its  body:  and  it  addedi  no  small  reverence  to  men's •_'.-. 
manners  and  actions,  if  they  be  not  altogether  ()i)en.° 
As  for  talkei's  and  futile°  persons,  they  iwr  commordy 
vain  and  ci-edulous  withal.  For  he  that  talketii  what 
he  knoweth,  will  also  talk  what  he  knovveth  not. 
Therefore  set   it  down   that   an   habit   of  secrt(\    isinj 


18        KSSAYS   (Hi   iOlXSKI.S   CIVIL    .J.V/>   MORAL 

both  politic  an.l  inoJ-al.  And  in  this  part  it  is  .liood 
(iiat  a  man's  lace  uivc  liis  toiiiiuc  leave  to  speak. ° 
For  the  (li>('(.v(rv  of  a  man's  self  hy  the  tracts"  of 
his  countenance  is  a  jjreat   weakness  and  betrayin";-, 

5l)V  how  much  it  is  many  times  ni(»re  mtirked  and 
JM'lieved  than  :i  man's  words, 

J-'or  the  second,  which  is  dissimulation,  it  followeth 
UKun  times  upon  secrecy  by  nec"ssity;  so  that  he 
that  will    be  secret   must    be  a  dissembler  in  sonu^ 

10 degree.  For  men  are  too  cunning  to  suffer  a  man  to 
keej)  an  indifferetit  carriage  betwtHMi  both,  and  to  be 
secret,  without  swaying  th(^  balance  on  either  side. 
They  will  so  beset  a  man  with  (luestions,  and  draw 
!iim  on,  and   juck   it  out  of  him.   that.,   without  an 

l;iabsurd°  silence,  he  must  show  an  inclination  one 
wav;  or  if  he  do  not,  they  will  gather  as  nuich  l)y 
his  sik-nie  as  by  his  speech.  As  for  equivocation.s 
or  oracuk)Us°  si)eeches,  they  cannot  hokl  out  long. 
So  that  no  man  can  be  .secret,  except  he  give  himself 

20 a  littk'  scope  of  dissinnilation,  which  is,  as  it  were, 
l)Ut  the  skirts  or  train  of  secrecy. 

liut  for  the  third  degree,  which  is  simulation  and 
false  !)i()fessi(»n:  that  I  hokl  more  culpable  and 
less  politic,  except  it  b(>°  in  great  and  rare  matters. 

2r.  And  therefore  a  general  cu^^tom  of  simulation,  which 
is  this  last  degree,  is  a  vice  rising  either  of  a  natural 
falseness  or  fi^arfiilness,  or  of  a  mind  that  hath  some 
tnain  faults;  which,  because  a  "an  nuist  needs  dis- 
guise, it    niaketh   him   i)ractis     sinudatkm   in  other 

:x)  tilings,  lest  his  hand  shoukl  be  out  of  uie.° 


ESSAYS   OH  C«K\SKl.S   i'lVIL    AM)    Moll.- 


\i) 


The  iiTciit  u(  Ivan  taller  of  siiiiulalioii  aiKi   dissiiim- 
lation    arc    tlircc:    -  l-irst,    t*.    lay   asleep   ojtpDsitioii 
aixl   to  surprise;    for  where  a   man's   intentions  are 
j)ui)hsiie(l,   it   is  an  ahiruni   to  call    up   all    that   are 
aii'ainst  them.     The  second  is,  t(»  i"cscrvc  to  a  man's r» 
-;elf  a  fair  retnvit;  for  if  a  man  en«iaji('  iiimsclf  by  a 
manifest    declaration,    lie   must   ^o   tln'oujiih   or   take 
a  fall.     The  third  is,  the  better  to  discover  the  mind 
of  another;  for  to  lum  that  oj)ens  himself,  men  will 
hardly    show    themselves     ad.ver.c;    hut    will    fair"  10 
let  him  j^o  on,  and  turn  their  freedom  of  speech  to 
freedom   of  thouiiht.     And,   therefore,   it    is   a     --od 
shrewd  proverb  of  the  Spaniard,  '  Teil  a  lie,  and  find 
a  truth;"  as  if  then*  were  no  way  of  discovery  but  by 
simulation.     There   be   also    three   disadvantages   to  15 
set  it  even°:  —  The  first,   that  simulation  and  dis- 
simulation  commonly    carry   with    them   a   show   of 
fearfulness,    which    in    any    business   doth   spoil    the 
feathers    of    rouiuP    flying-    Uj)    to    the    mark.     The 
second,  that  it  puzzh^th  and  perplexeth  the  conceits  jo 
of   many    that   ])erliaj)s   would   otherwise   co-oj)erate 
with  him,  and  makes  a  man  walk  almost  alone  to 
his  own   ends.     The   third   and  greatest   is,    that   it 
depriveth  a  man  of  one  of  the  most  princi})al  instru- 
ments for  action,   which  is  trust  and  belief.°    The'J.- 
best  composition  and  temperature"  is  to  have  open- 
ness in  fame  and  oj)inion,  secrecy  in  habit,  (iissimula- 
tion  in  seasonable  use,  and  a  power  to  feign  if  there 
l)e  no  re'iKKly. 


20        hHiSAiH   OA'   LOIWUKLS   t'lVlL    AM)   MORAL 


VII.    OF  PARENTS  AND  CHILDREN 

The  joys  of  i^arents  are  secret,  and  so  are  their 


griefs   and   fears;   the 


:h 


:'annot  mte 
mey  wni  not  iitier  the  otlier.  Cliihh'en  sweeten 
hibours,  but  th{\v  make  misfortunes  jnore  bitter; 
5  they  increase  th(^  cares  of  hfe,  but  they  mitigate  the 
remembrance  of  ileatii.  Tlie  perpetuity  by  genera- 
tion is  connnon  to  beasts;  but  memory,  merit,  and 
noble  works  are  jjropor  to  men ;  and  surely  a  man  siiali 
see  the  nol)lest  works  and  ft)un(hitions  have  proceeded 

10  from  childless  men,  which  have  sought  to  express 
the  images  of  their  minds  where  those  of  their  bodies 
have  failed;  so  the  care  of  posteiity  is  most  in  iliem 
that  have  no  posterit\'.°  Th(\v  that  are  the  first 
raisers  of  their  houses  are   most   indulgent  towards 

ir»  their  children,  behoKliug  them  as  the  continuance, 
not  only  of  their  kind,  but  of  their  u'ork;  and  so 
both  children  and  creatures. 

The  difference  in  affection  of  parents  towards  their 
several  children  is  many  tinuss  une(|ual,  and  some- 

20 times  unworthy, espcH'ially  in  the  mother;  as  Solomon*^ 
saith,  "A  wise  son  rejoiceth  the  father,  but  an  un- 
gracious son  shames  the  mother."  A  man  shall  see, 
where  there  is  a  house  full  of  children,  one  or  two 
of  the  eldest  respected  and  the  youngest  made  wan- 

25tons°;  but  in  the  midst  some  tliat  are  as  it  were  for- 
gotten), who  many  times,  nevertheless,  prove  the  best. 
The   illil'er;iiit>    of  parents   in   allowance   towards 


fJSSAYS   OR   COrXSKLS   <'IVlf.     i  Xl>    MORAL 


21 


tlu'ir  childron  is  an  liannful  ('iror. —  inak(  >  tlicMn 
haso,  acquaiiits  them  witli  shifts.'"  inal<('s  thcin  sort'^ 
with  mean  cotnpaiiy.  and  makes  tlicm  surfeit  more 
when  they  ''ome  to  j)lenty;  and  th.ere^'ore  tlie  proofs 
is  best  when  men  k(>ep  their  authority  towards  their r. 
ciiilih'en,  hut  not  tlnnr  |)urse.  Ahni  have  a  foohsh 
manner  (both  ))ar(Mits  and  sclioohuasters  and  servants) 
ill  creatiuii;  and  hreedinu;  an  emulation  between 
brothfM's  (hiring-  cliildliood,  whieli  many  timers  sorteth° 
to(iis('ord  when  they  ai'e  men.  and  disturbetli  famihes.  m 

The  ItaUans  make  little  dilfenMU-e  between  children 
and  nepliews  or  near  kin  folks;  but  so  they  be  of  the 
lump.'^  th(\v  ('ar(>  not  thouui  they  pass  not  through 
(h(Mr  own  body.  And.  to  sav  truth,  in  nature  it  is 
mueh  a  like  matt(M";  insomuch  that  we  sec  a  nephew  ir. 
^omelimes  res(Mnl)l(>th  an  uncle  or  a  kinsman  more 
than  his  own  parent,  as  the  blood  ha))])ens. 

Let  parents  choose  betimes  the  vocations  and 
courses  they  mean  th(»ir  children  shoiik!  take,  for 
th(Mi  they  are  most  flexible;  and  k^t  them  not  tooL'o 
much  n.])ply  theni-elves  to  tlu*  tlis|)ositiou  of  their 
children,  as  thinking  tii(\v  will  take  best  to  that 
which  they  hiwo  most  mind  to.  It  is  true  that  if 
the  affection  or  aptness  of  the  children  be  extra- 
ordinary, then  it  is  good  not  to  cross  it;  l)ut  generally '-M 
rhe  })recep(  is  good.  "Oj^timum'^  elige,  suave  et  farile 
illud  faciet  consuetudo. ''  Younger  brothers  are 
commonly  fortunate,*^  but  seldom  or  never  where  the 
elder  are  disinherited. 


99 


ESSAYS   OB   «  (/{'XSKLS   CIVIL    AXJ>   MORAL 


VIII.    OF    MARRIAGE   AND   SINGLE    LIFE 

He  that  hath  wife  and  childroii  hath  ^iven  hos- 
tages to  fortune, °  for  they  are  inijxHliments  to  great 
enterprises,  either  of  virtue  or  mischief.  Certainly 
the  best  works  and  of  greatest  merit  for  the  public 
shave  proeeedetl  from  the  unmarried  or  childless 
men,  which  botli  in  affcH'tion  and  means  have  married 
and  endowed  the  i)ul)lic.  Yet  it  were  gn^at  reason 
that  those  that  have  children  should  have  greatest 
care°  of  future  times,  unto  which  they  know  they 
10  must  transmit  their  dearest  pledges. ° 

Some  tiiere  are  who,  though  they  lead  a  single 
life,  yet  their  thoughts  do  end  with  themselves, 
and  account  future  times  imp(>rtinences°;  nay,  there 
are  some  other  that  account  wife  and  children  but 
15 as  bills  of  charges;  nay  more,  there  are  some  foolish, 
rich,  covetous  men  that  take  a  jiride  in  having  no 
children,  l)ecau  ^°  they  may  be  thought  so  much  the 
richer.  For  perhai)s  they  have  heard  some  talk, 
"Such  an  one  is  a  great  rich  man,''  and  another 
20 except  to  it,  "Yvii,  l)ut  he  hath  a  great  charge  of 
chiklren,"  as  if  it  were  an  abatem(>nt  to  his  riches. 
J^ut  the  most  ordinary  cause  of  a  single  life  is  lil)erty, 
especially  in  certain  self-pleasing  and  hum()rous° 
minds,  which  are  so  sensible  of  every  restraint,  as 
2.")  they  will  go  luvir  to  think  then*  girdles  and  garters 
to  be  bonds  and  shackles. 

Unmarried   men   are    best   friends,   best   masters. 


ESSAYS   OR   COrXSELS   CIVIL    AXI>   MOIiAL        2.S 


M 


best    sorvants,    but    not    uhvavs 


best 


>Ul)J{' 


for 


they  are  light  to  run  away,  and  ahnost  all  fugitives 
are  of  that  condition.  A  single  life  doth  well  with 
( 'hurehnien,  for  charity  will  hardly  water  tht*  ground 
wliere  it  nuist  first  fill  a  pool.  It  is  indifferent °r) 
for  judges  and  magistrates,  for  if  they  he  facile  and 
corrupt,  you  shall  have  a  servant  live  times  worse 
tlian  a  wife.  For°  soldiers,  I  find  the  generals 
commonly,  in  their  hortativ(^s,°  j)ut  men  in  mind  of 
their  wives  and  children.  And  1  think  the  despisin* 
of  jnarriai-e  amony;st   the  Turks  mak(>th   the  vuljiar 


10 


)kli 


I) 


souuer  more  Dase. 

Certainly,  wife  anil  children  luv  a  kind  of  discipline 
of  humanity;       id  single  men,  though  they  he  many 
times  more  charitahk'.  because  their  means  are  less  i.") 
exhaust,  yet,  on  the  otluM'  side,  they  are  more  cruel 
and  hard-hearted  (good  to  mak(>  severe  inquisitors), 
because  their  tenderness  is  not  so  oft  called  upon, 
(irave  natures,  letl  by  custom,  and  tluM"(^fore  constant, 
are    conunonly    loving    husbands;     as    was    saul    of-'o 
riys.ses,°  "  \"etulam°  suam  pra>tulit  immortalitati." 
Chaste    women    are    often    proud    and    froward,°    as 
presuming  upon   the  merit  of  their  chastity.     It   is 
one  of  the  l)est  bonds  both  of  chastity  and  obedience 
in  the  wife,  if  she  think  her  husband  wise;  which  she '-'.'> 
will  never  do  if  she  find  him  jealous. 

Wives    are    young    men's    mistresses,    companions 
id  okl  men's  nurses;    so  as  a  man 


age, 


111 


ay  have  a  quarrel°  to  marry  when  he  will.     Hut 
yet  he  was  reputed  one  of  the  wise  men  that  iiuule 


M 


'J4        J'.'SSAYS   on   <  Of  X.SKLS   VI Ml.    A  XI,    Mi, HAL 

answer  to  tlio  (question,  wlien  a  man  should  inarrv; 
"A  young  man  not  yet,  an  eKlcr  man  not  at  all. ''° 
It  is  often  seen  that  bad  luisbands  have  veiy  good 
wives;  wlietlier  it  be  that  it  rais<«th  the  price  of 
s  their  husband's  kindness  wiien  it  comes,  -)r  that  the 
wives  tai<e  a  {)ri(le  in  their  patience.  lUit  this  never 
fails,  if  the  bad  luisbands  were  of  their  own  choosiriL' 
against  their  friends'  consent;  for  then  they  will  be 
sure  to  make  good  their  own  folly. 


IX.    OF   ENVY 

10  There  be  noiK^  of  the  affections  which  have  been 
notetl  to  fascinate"  or  bewitch,  but  love  anil  envv. 
TI ;(>y  both  have  vehement  wislies;  they  frame  them- 
selves readily  into  imaginations  and  suggestions; 
and  they  come  (>asily  into  the  eve,  especiallv  upon' 

15  the  presence  of  the  objects;  which  are  the"  points 
that  con<luce  to  fascination,  if  any  such  thing  there  be. 
We  see  likewise  the  Script ur(>^  caileth  cn\y  an  evil  eye, 
and  the  astrologers  call  the  e\  il  inlluences  of  tlu' 
stars  evil  aspects;  so  that  stilP  there  seemeth  to  be 

20 acknowledged  in  the  act  ot  (>nvv  an  ejaculation, ° 
or  u-radiation,  of  the  eye.  Nay,  some  have  been  so 
curious  [IS  to  note  that  the  times  wh<  the  stroke 
or  percussion  of  an  envious  e\-e  doth  most  hurt,  are 
when  the  jwiy  envied  is  beheld  in  glory  or  triumph, 

2.-. lor  tiiat  sets  an  edge  upon  envy,  and,  besides,  at 
such  times  the  sj)irits  of  the  person  envied  do  come 


ESSAYS   OR   rorXSKLS   CIVIL    AXD   MOh'.iL        25 


forth  nio.sl  into  the  outward  parts,  and  i:-()  meet  the 
blow. 

But  leaving;  these  euriositic^s  (thoufjh  not  unworthy 
to  ho  thought,  on  in  fit  phic(^'^).  we  will  handl<>  what 
])(Msons  .70  apt  to  eiP'y  other.-: ;  what  persons  are  most  5 
suhjeet  to  bo  envied   thenisclvc^s ;    ;ind  what    is  the 
dilTerenre  between  ()ubli('  and  prixate  (>nvy. 

A  man  that  hath  no  virtue  in  himself  ever  envieth 
virtue  in  others.  Tor  Fxien's  minds  will  either  feed 
upon  their  own  good  or  U])oii  oth.ers'  evil;  and  who  ifl 
wanteth  the  one  will  prey  upon  the  other;  and  whoso 
is  out  of  hope  to  attain  to  another's  virtue  will  seek 
to  come  at  even  liand  by  depressing  another's  foriime. 

A  man  that  is  busy  and  in(|uisitive  is  eonnnonly 
envious.  For  to  know  much  of  otluM"  men's  matt(>rs  i." 
rannot  be  because  all  that  ado  may  concern  his  own  es- 
tate; therefore  it  nmst  needs  be  (hat  he  taketh  a  kind 
of  plav-pleasure  in  looking  upon  the  fortunes  of  others. 
\eith(T  can  he  that  mindetli  but  his  own  business 
find  much  matter  for  envy,  for  en\y  is  a  gadding  •_>(, 
jiassioii,  and  walketh  the  stre(>ts.  tmd  doth  not  keep 
liome:  "  Xon  (>st°  curiosus.  (piin  i(U'm  sit  malevolus.  " 

Men  of  nobl(^  birth  i\'V  noted  to  be  envious  towi;rds 
new  men"^  when  they  ris{\    For  the  disiance  is  altered, 
and  it  is  like  a  deceit  of  the  eye,  that  when  others 2.- 
rome  on  they  think  themselves  go  back. 

Deformed    persons,    and    eunuchs,    and    old    men, 
and  bastards,  ai'e  envious:  for  he  that  cannot  possibly 


men<l 


hH  own  cas(» 


will 


(id 


at  1 


le  can  to  unpair 


another's^;    except  these  defects  light  upon  a  very  .ai 


26        J'JSSAYS   OR  COl'XSELS   CIVIL   AND   MORAL 


brave  and  heroical  nature,  which  thinketh  to  make 
his  natural  wants  i)art  of  his  iionour°;  in  that  it 
slioukl  be  said  that  an  eunuch  or  a  lame  man  did  such 
ffreat  matters;  affecting  the  honour  of  a  miracle: 
r>as  it  was  in  Xarses°  tiie  eunuch,  and  Agesilaus°  and 
''J"'aml)erlanes,°  that  were  lame  men. 

The  sauK^  is  the  case  of  men  that  rise  after  calamities 
and  misfortunes;   for  they  are  as  men  fallen  out  with 
the  ti.nes,  and  think  otlier  men's  harms  a  redemption 
10  of  their  own  sufferings. 

Tiiey  that  desire  to  excel  in  too  many  matters,  out 
of  levity °  and  vain-glory,  are  ever  envious;  for  they 
cannot  want  work,  it  being  imp(,ssible  but  many 
in  some  one  of  those  tilings  should  surpass  them. 
isWhicli  was  the  character  of  Adrian, °  the  emperor, 
that  mortally  envied  poets  and  painters  and  artificers, 
in  works  wherein  he  had  a  vein  to  excel. 

Lastly,  near  kinsfolks,  and  fellows  in  office,  and 
those  that  have  been  bred  together,  are  more  apt  to 
20 envy  their  equals  when  they  are  raised.  For  it  doth 
upbraid  unto  them  their  own  fortunes,  and  pointeth 
at  them,  -ind  cometh  oftener  into  their  remembrance, 
and  incu.  ')°  likewise  more  into  the  note  of  others; 
and  envy  e\er  redou})leth  from  speech  and  fame. 
25 Cain's  envy  was  (lie  more  vile  and  malignant  towards 
his  brother  Abel  because",  when  his  sacrifice  was  better 
accepted,  there  was  nobody  to  look  on.°  Thus  much 
for  those  that  are  apt  to  envy. 

Concerning   those   thnt    are    more   or   less   subject 
:*)to  envy:  —  First,  persons  of  eminent   virtue  when 


A'&VS.I  r.S    <Ui   roi  XSKLS   civil,    AM)    MoliXh         27 


tlu'V  arc  a(lvaiic{'(|  arc  less  (Mivicd.  I'oi-  their  torttmc 
sccinctli  l)Ul  due  unto  ihcin;  and  no  man  cnviotli 
the  |)avnK'nt  of  a  debt,  l)Ul  r  wards  and  hhcrality 
rallicr  A^ain,  envy  is  ever  joined  witli  tlie  conipar- 
in<';  :n  d  nitm's  sell",  and  where  there  is  no  comparison, 5 
no  envy;  anil  therefore  kiniis  aii>  not  envied  l»ut  by 
kiniis.  Ncvertlielcss,  it  is  to  be  noted  tiiat  unworthy 
p(>rsons  are  most  envied  at  their  first  comin^ii  in, 
and  aiterwards  overcome  it  bettei  ;  whereas  contrari- 
wis(v,  persons  of  worth  and  merit  are  most  envied  lo 
when  their  fortune  continuetii  lon^.  For  i)y  that 
time,  thouiih  their  virtue  be  the  sam(>,  yet  it  hath  not 
the  same  lustre,  for  fresh  men  ^row  uj)  that  darken  it.° 

I'ersons  of  no})ie  blood  are  less  envied  in  their  risiny;, 
for  it  seemeth  but  ri»ht  done  to  tlieir  l)irth;  besides.  15 
there  seemeth  not  much  added  to  their  fortune,  and 
envy  is  ivr  the  sunl)eams.  that  beat  hotter  u{)on  a  bank 
or  steej)  rising'  jz;rou!i(l  than  upon  a  flat.  And  for  the 
same  reason,  those  that  are  advanccnl  by  degrees  are 
less  (Mivied  than  th(jse  that  are  advanced  suddenlv.'jo 
and  per  saltam° 

Those  tliat  have  joined  with  their  lionour  great 
t  ravels, °  carc';,  or  jierils  are  less  subject  to  envy, 
lor  men  tliink  that  they  earn  their  honours  hardly, 
and  }>ity  them  sometimes;  and  i)ity  ever  healeth 'J.'i 
envy.  Wherefore  you  shall  ()bs(>rve  that  the  more 
deep  and  sober  sort  of  j)oliti(.'  persons,  in  their  great- 
ness, are  ever  bemoaning  themselves  what  a  life 
they  lead,  chanting  a  "(Quanta  i)atimur°;''  not  that 
they  feel  it  so^  but  only  to  abate  the  edge  of  envy.  :hj 


28 


KSS.IYS   Oh'    (  Of  xsi:/,s   rniL    AX  It    MO  HAL 


But  this  is  to  i)(>  iit!<lorst(X)(l  of  husinoss  that  is  laid 
upon   nuMi,   and   not  siu'li  as   they   call  unto  tlieni- 
sulves.     Tor  nothin.c:  incroasoth  cjny  more  (lian  an 
unnecessary   and   anil)itious  en,u'rossin(r  oi  business; 
5 and  nothino-  doth  extiniiuish  envy  more  than  for  a' 
^reat    person    to    pieserve   all    (,ther   inferior  ofhcrs 
in  their  full  riohts  and  pre-eminences  of  their  plaers: 
lor  hy  that  means  there  be  so  many  screens  between 
him  ;ind  (mvy, 
10      Above  all,  those  are  most  subject  to  envv  whii-h 
carry  the  ••reatness  of  their  fortimes  in  an  insolent 
and  proud  manner,  beino  ,i('V(t  welP  l)ut  while  they 
are  showing  how  great  they  m\\  (Mther  bv  outward 
pomp,  or  by  trium})hin,i>-  over  all  oppositi<m  or  coui- 
ir.  petition -whereas  wise    men  will  rather  do  sacrifice 
to  envy,  in  suffering  themselves  sometimes  of  purpos(> 
to  be  cro-  sed  and  overborne  in  things  that  do  not  much 
concern   them.     Notwithstanding,   so   jmich   is   true, 
that  the  carriage^  of  greatness  in  a  j)Iain  and  ojien' 
20  maimer,  so  it  b(>  without  arrogancy  and  vain-glory, 
doth  di..w  less  envy  than  if  it   Ix^'in  a  more  crafty 
and  cunning  fashion.     For  in  that  course  a  man  doth 
but  di-^avow  fortune,^  and  seenu-th  to  be  conscious  of 
his  own  want  in  worth,  and  doth  but  teach  others  to 
25 envy  him. 

Lastly,   to  conclude  this  ])art.  as  we  said  in  the 


icginninir  that  the  act  of 


o 


f  witc 


ei:vv 


had 


omewhat  in  it 


icrait,  so  there  is  no  other  cure  of  envv  but  the 


cure  of  witchcraft   and   thai    is  t 


:50as  they  call  it,  and  to  lav  it 


o  I'emove  the  lot, 


upon  another.     For  which 


--  "  "-l—liiM! 


« ll 


ESSAYS   OH   (  OLWSELS   en  II.   AM>   MoUAL        L''J 


purpose  liic  wiser  sort  of  <ireat  jX'rsons  iMHiir  in  ever 
nj)ou  11h>  stiijie  somebody  ii])oii  wlioiii  To  (irn\('°  Uio 
(Mivv  tliat  woultl  eoiiie  U})on  themselves:  sometimes 
ui)oii  ministers  and  servants.  someti»nes  upon  eol- 
iea<.':ues  and  associati^s,  and  the  like;  and  for  tliat.") 
turn  ttiere  arc  ne\'er  wantinu"  soin(>  persojis  of  violent 
and  nndertakin,i2;°  natures,  who.  so  tiiev  may  hav(^ 
l)()\V{»r  and  l)usiiicss,  will  take  it  at  any  eost. 

Now  to  speak  of  ])u])lie  envy.  There  is  yet  some 
i>(M)d  in  i)ubli('  envy,  wluTeas  m  )»rivate  there  is  m 
none.  For  public  envy  is  as  an  ostraeism,  iliat 
eclip^oth  men  when  th{>y  orow  too  jrreat :  and  there- 
fore it  is  a  bridle  also  to  p;reat  ones,  to  keep  them 
within  bounds. 

Tiiis  erivy,  beinii;  in  tlie  Latin  word  invnlia,  goeth  in  i.' 
ihe  modern  lan^juaKes  by  the  name  of  "  (iiscontent- 
1  inent/'  of  which  we  shall  s})(»ak  in  handlinfr;  sedition. 

It  is  a  disease  in  a  state  like  to  infeetion;  for  as 
ir.fection  si)readeth  ui)on  inat  which  is  sou.nd,  and 
tainteth  it,  so  when  envy  is  gotten  once  into  a'JO 
state,  it  traduceth  even  the  V)est  actions  thereof,  and 
turnetli  them  into  an  ill  odour.  And  therefore  there 
is  little  wo!i  l)y  intei-miii,i:iin<i'  of  plai'.,-il)le°  actions; 
for  that  doth  arjiiie  l)ut  ;i  weakness  and  fear  of  envy, 
which  hurteth  so  much  the  more;  as  it  is  likewise 2.") 
usual  in  infeciions,  which,  if  y(Mi  fear  them,  you  call 
them  upon  you. 

This   public   envy   seemeth   to   beat    chiefly   upon 


prmcipi 


d    oih 


isters,    rather    than    upon 


s    or    mnu 
kinys  and  estates  themiselves.^    But  this  is  a  sure  ad 


30 


ass  AYS   OR  COIXSKLS  CIVIL   Ay 


n   MORAL 


rule,  that  if  tho  onvy  upon  tlu>  minister  ho  ^rroai 
when  the  cause  of  it  in  him  is  small,  or  if  the  rnvv 
be  general  in  a  manner  upon  all  th(>  ministers  of  an 
estate,  then  the  vnxy.  though  hidden,  is  trulv  upon  the 
r. state  itself.  And  so  mueh  of  public  (»nvv  or  dis- 
contentment, and  the  difference  thereof  from  private 
envy,  which  was  handled  in  the  first  place 

We  will  add  this  in  general,  touching  tlie  af^Vction 
of  envy,   that  of  all  other  ailections"  it   is  the    nost 
lonuportune   a.id   continual;    for   of   other    affecti.)ns 
there  la  occasion  given  }>ut  now  and  then,  and  there- 
fore It  was  well  said,  •'  Invidia^  festos  dies  non  agit. " 
for  it  IS  ever  working  upon  some  or  other.     And^it  is 
also  noted  that  love  and  envy  do  make  a  man  pine 
15  which  other  afifections  do  not,  because  they  are  not 
so  continual.     It  is  also  the  vilest  affection  and  the 
most   depraved,  for  which    cause    it    is    the    proper 
attribute  of  the  devil,  who  is  called   ''the  envious 
man,°    that    soweth    tares    amongst    the    wheat    by 
20  night;"  as  it  always  cometh  to  pass  that  envv  worketii 
subtilely  and  in  the  dark,  and  to  the  prejudice  of 
good  thmgs,  such  as  is  the  wheat. 


X.     OF    LOVE 

The  stage  is  more  beholding^  to  love  than  the 

hfe  of  man.     For,  as  to  the  stage,  love  is  ever  matter 

25 ()f  comedies  and  now  am'  then  of  tragedies;   but  in 

life  it  doth  much  mischief,  sometimes  like  a  siren, 


ASSAYS   (Hi   rnrSSKLS   clVII.    .\M>    MdRAt. 


31 


Diiu'tiino; 


like 


turv 


(»u     m;iv    (»l)S('r\( 


that 


amongst  all  the  ^reat  ami  worthy  jxTsons  whert'of 
the  iiu'inorv  rciualtioth.  (Uthcr  ancient  or  ri't-eiit,  there 
is  not  one  °  that  hath  been  transported  to  the  mad 
decree  of  lo\e  ;  whieh  shows  that  lireat  spirits  and  ."> 
ureat  business  do  keep  out  this  weak  passion.'^  You 
\\\\\>\  except,  neverth(>less,  Marcus  Antonius.°  the 
halt-partner  ol"  the  JMupire  of  Home,  and  Aj)pins 
(1a!i  lius,°  the  d(>ceinvir  and  law-giver;  wher(M)f  the 
toriner  was  indeed  a  voluptuous  man  and  inordinat(\  k; 
biU  the  latter  was  an  austere  and  wis(>  man;  and 
therefore  it  seems,  thouuh  larely.  that  love  can  find 
ejitrance.  not  only  into  an  open  heart,  but  also  hito 
a  heart  well  fortified,  if  watch  be  not  well  kept. 

It  is  a  i)oor  sayinji;  of  Mpicurus'^:  "Satis°  mag;nunnr. 
alter  alteri  theatrum  sumus."  as  if  man,  ma(l(*  for 
the  contemplation  of  IIea\'en  and  all  noble  objects, 
should  do  nothiiiij;  but  kneel  before  a  little  idol°  and 
make  hims(>lf  sul)ject.  though  not  of  the  mouth,  as 
beasts  are,  yet  of  the  eye,  wliich  was  given  him  for-ji 
hiuiuM-  pur|)oses.  It  is  a  strange  thing  to  note  the 
excess  of  t-his  j)assion,  and  how  it  braves°  the  nature 
ai'.d  value  of  things,  by  this,  that  the  speaking  in  a 
perpetual  hyperbole  is  comely  in  nothing  but  in 
love.  Neither  is  it  merely  in  the  phrase;  for  where- 25 
as  it  hath  been  well  said°  that  the  arch-flatterer, 
■A-ith  whom  all  the  petty  flatterers  have  intelligence, ° 
is  a  man's  self,  certainly  the  lover  is  more.  For 
there  was  never  proud  man  thought  so  absurdly  well 
of  himself  as  the  lover  dotli  of   the  person  loved; 30 


32 


KSS.IYS   (,h-   rfj/  \s/:/,s   (III,,    .,.v/>    MUUAI. 


and  thorotoiv  it  is  well  .sakl^  "thai  ir  is  in. possible 
to  love  and  to  he  wise."     Neither  doth  this  weak- 
ness  appear   to  others  only,  and    not    to  tlu    party 
loved:   but  to  the  loved  most  of  all.  exeept  the  love 
5 be  reeipro(,ne.°     For  it  is  a  true   rule  that   loxv  is 
ever  rewarded   eith(>r  with   the   n'cipr(K,ue"  oi-  with 
an  niward   and  secn-t  conrcuipt;    bv  how  nuich   thr 
more  men  ou,i;ht    to   b.  ware  of   ihis   passion,   which 
loseth  not  only  otiier  things  but  itself.     As  for  the 
icother  losses.  t!ie  poet's  relation  doth  well  [i^mre  them 
that  he  that  prefenvd  HekMur  <juitted  the  ^dffs  „f 
Juno°and  Pallas^-  for  whosoever  esteemeth  too  mueh 
ot  amorous  aifection  (luitteth  both  rieiies  and  wisdom 
Plus  passion  hath  his°  floods  in  tiie  verv  times  of 
15  weakness,  whicli  are  -reat  prosperity  and"  ijroa,   i,<I- 
versity.  thou-li  this  latter  hath  been   less  observed- 
both  wlueh  times  kindle  love  and  Uiake  it  more  fer- 
vent, and  therefon.  siiow  it  U^  l„>  the  child  of  foilv 
lliey  do  best  who,  if  they  eann(,t  but  a<lmit  love   vet 
2()make  it  keep  ({uarier,"  and  seN(>r  it  wholjv  from  their 
serious  affairs  an<l   a.tions  of  life;    for  if  it  check" 
once  with  business  it   troubieth  men's  fortunes    .,„d 
maketh  men  that  they  can  nowavs  be  tru.'  t..  their 
own  ends.      [  know  not  how,  bul  martial  m.-n  are  uiven 
25 to  love;   I   think  it  is  but  as  thev  are  dven  to  wine 
for  perils  commonly  ask  to  be  pai<l  in  })i(N-isures. 

There  is  in  man^s  nature  a  socret  hiclinatkni  and 
motion  towards  love  of  others,  which,   if  it   be  not 


spent  upon  some  one  or  a  f(>w,  doth 
30 itself  towards  many,  and   maketl 


naturally  spread 
1  men  become  hu- 


t  u 


ESS.nS   OR   (UlXSKLS   <  IVIL     \.\/>   MORAL 


.>."» 


mano  ami  ('liarital)l(\  as  ii  is  seen  somctiinc  in  friars. 
Nuptial  love  inak(th  niaiikiiul,  friiMidiy  love  |x»i- 
h'ctcth  it,  but  wanton  love  corrupteth  and  enibas- 
ctli  it. 


XI.     OF   GREAT    l^.ACE 


Mk\  in  ^roat   place  aro  thrico  scTvants  :  servants.". 
of  the  sovereign  or  state,  servants  of  fame,  and  ser- 
vants (^f  business;  so  as  th(\v  have  no  freedom,  neither 
iti   their  jK'rsons,   nor  in   tiieir  actio!is,   nor  in   their 
times.     It  is  a  st?"an<!;e  desire  to  seek  power  and  to 
lose  liberty  ;  or  to  seek  power  over  others  and  t'  lt)S(>  Kl 
power  over  a  man's  «elf.     Tlie  risinji;  unto  plaee  is 
laborious,  and  by  pains  men  eome  to  <ireater  [»ains; 
and  it°  is  sometimes  base,  and  by  indignities  nien  eome 
to  di^iiiti(»s.     Tlie  standinji:  is  slij^pery,  and   the  re- 
press is  either  a  downfall  or  at  least  an  celipse.  whi« '   !■" 
is  a   melancholy   thiuii;.     "('um'^  non  sis  (pii   fueiis. 
non  esse  cur  v«Mis  vivenv"     Nay,  retire  men  caiuiot 
when    they   would,    neither   will    they   when    it  were 
reason,  but    are    iuijiatient    of    privateness,  even    in 
.iiie   and   sickness,   which    re(|uire    the   shadow;    lik(^20 
old  towii.-men,  thai  will  be  still  sitting  at  their  street 
door,  thoujih  thereby  th(-y  offer  age  to  scorn.     Cer- 
tainly, j^reat  persons  had  need  to  borrow  other  men's 
opinions  to  think  themselv(\s  ha})py,  for  if  they  judge 
in  their  own  feeling  they  caimot  find  it  ;  but  if  they  2.1 
think  with  themselves  what  other  men  think  of  them, 
and  that  other  men  would  fain  be  as  tluw  are,  then 


34 


USi^AlS   OR   roi  ySKLS   VIVU.    ASl)    MORAL 


f  icy  aiv  lia|)j)y  as  it   wore  hy  report.  wIkmi  pcrliaps 
(JK'y    ii!i<l    lh(^    coiilrary    witliiii.     For    tlu.y    are    (lie 
(irst   thai    tiiid   their  own  ^riei's.  though   (hey  be  tlie 
liist   I  hat    iiM(l    th(Mr  own   faults.     ("(Tiainlv,"  men  in 
5,ii:reat    fortunes    are    stran-ei-s^    to    themselves,    and 
while  they  are  in   th(>  puzzle  of  business  th(-y   hav(> 
no  time  to  (end  their  health  either  of  !.odv  or  mind. 
;•  Ilh^  mors  .uravis  ineubat,  (lui  notus  iiimis  onmibus! 
i,i;'notus  morifur  sibi.'' 
10      In  place  then   is  licens(>  lo  <lo  ,iro„d  aiid  ,>vil.  wheivot 
the  latter  is  a  eurse;    f<.r  in  ,.vil  the  best  eotidition  is 
not  to  will,  the  serond  not  to  ean.°     Hut  po\v(>r  to  do 
,ii-oo<l°  IS  the  true  and   lawful  end  of  aspirin--      For 
^•ood  thouiihts.  thouuh  Cod  ac.ept  them,  vet  towards 
1.5  men  are  li(il(>  blotter  than  -ood  dtvams,  except  they 
be  ])ut  m  act ;   and  that  cannot  be  without  power  and 
pace,    as    the    vanta-e    and    commandiuir    crromul 
Mem  and  -ood  works  is  the  end  of  man's  motion  ° 
and  conscience^  of  the  same  is  the  accmpli.hment  of 
20  man's  rest.     For  if  a  man  can  be  partaker  of  (lod's 
tlH'at(>r,  he  shall  likewise  bv  partaker  of  (lod's  re^l 
"  VA  conversus°  l),>us,  ut  aspiceret  opera,  (pur  ivvv- 
runt  maims  siue,  vidit  cpiod  omnia  essent  bona  nimis  "' 
and  then  the  Sabbath.'^  ' 

2r,      I'l  the  o'ischaru-e  of  tl,;,      ,lace  set  before  thee  the 
best  e.\am|)les.  for  imitation  is  a  ,<;-lobe°  ,,f  prcvpts 
And  after  a  lini(<  s(>t  before  thee  thine  own  example' 
and  exannne  t  hysHf  strictly,  whether  thou  di.lst   not 
I'cst  at  hrst.     Xe,iilect  not  also  the  examples  of  those 


;30lhat  1 


lave  carried  thenis( 


■I  \  es 


Ju   iijc  same  plac 


J-:SS.]YS   OR   rofXSKLS    I  IVIL    AXl>    MOHM.        .")."> 


not  to  s(>t  off  thyself  by  taxiiiii;  their  ineiiiory.  hiil  to 
direct    thyself    what     to    axt^id.      K(>forin.    therefore, 
\\ithout  bravery'^  or  scandal  of  former  times  and  i)er- 
-;»Ms;  hut  yet  set  it  down  to  thyself,  as  well  to  ereate 
uood  |)reeed(Mits  as  to  follow  thmi.      l{educe°  things.'. 
lo  the  iirst  institution,  and  observe  wherein  and  how 
lhe\'   imve   deii'enerate,    but    yet    ask  counsel  of  both 
tunes:  of   the  ancient   time  what   is  best,  and  of  th(> 
hilter  time  what   is  iiltesl.      Seek  t(»  make  thy  cours«> 
reuiii;!:-.  ihat   men   may  know  beforehand  what    they  l<i 
nia\-  rxpccl  ;   but  be  not  too  j)ositive  and  periMuptory, 
and  <'\i)ress  thyx'lf  \\v\\°  when  thou  di,<i-ressest   from 
thv  riil(\      Preserx'e  th(>  riuht    of  th.y  i)!ace,  but   stir 
not  (jues'.iotis  of  jurisdiction;    and  ralh(>r  assume  thy 
riul'.t    in    silence    and    dv   javto/^    than    voice    it    with  m 
elain.s  and   challenp's.      Preserve  likewise  tlu^  rig'hts 
of  i!iferior  ))laces.  and  tliink  it  more  honour  to  direct 
in  chief  than  to  b(>  busy  in  all.     Mml^race  and  invite 
lu^lps  and  advices  touchin.u-  the  execution  of  tiiy  j^lace. 
and  do  not  dri\(^  awa>  such  as  brin,i>-  thee  information, -jo 
as  i!ieddiers.  but    accept    of  them   in  ^ood   l)art. 

'Xnv  \ices  of  authority  \\\v  ehieliy  four:  delays, 
corruption,  rotiudmess.  and  facility. °  I'or  delays: 
iiive  easy  access,  keep  limes  appointed,  \io  throuj2;h 
with  that  which  is  iii  hand,  and  interlace'-  not  busi-LT. 
!iess  but  of  iKM-essity.'"  l"(*r  corruption:  do  not 
oidy  bind  thine  own  lands,  or  thy  serx'ants'  iiands. 
iVom  takinu",  but  bind  lh(>  hands  of  suitors  also 
trom  offering!;."  i'"<>i"  inteii'rity  used  doth  the  one;  but 
miefirity  j)rofess(Hl,  and  with  a  manifest  detestation  ;«i 


m 


KSSAYS   OR   ('jCySF'.ii    CIVIL    .LV 


!>    MOUAL 


of  bribery,  .lotli  tho  other.     And  jiAoi.l  no(  only  tl... 
iaiiJt  but  tho  suspicioi).     Wliosocvor  is  found  variable 
and    ohan-eth    nianitVstly    without    mrniifest    vixxxm' 
giveth    suspicion    of    eorruption.     l^herefore    aiwaxs 
5 when  thou  elian-ivst  thine  opinion  or  eourse.  protV.. 
It  i)lanily,  and  deehiro  it,  toovtiu^r  with  tiie  reasons 
that  move  thee  to  ehanov,  and  do  not  think  to  steal 
It.     A  servant  or  a  faxourite,  if  he  hv  inward,°  and  no 
othor  apparent  (;aust>  of  est(>eni.  is  eonimonlv  thought 
10 '.tit  a  by-way  to  close  t'orruption.     For  rou<«hness: 
1    i.s  a  needi(>ss  caus(>  of  discontent;  severity  brefvletli 
^-.u',   but  rouo-hr.oss   brecnh^th    hate.     Kveii  reproofs 
troin  atithority  ou-ht  to  be  orav(>,  and  not  tauntin- 
As  tor  tacihty,  it  is  worse  than  bribery.^     For  bribes 
iscome  l)ut  now  and  then;    but  if  importunity  or  idle 
respeets  lea<l  a  ma-i.  he  shall  never  be  without       \s 
Solomon-  saith:   "To  ivspect   persons  is   not  good- 
tor  such  a  man  will  ti-an.-ivss  for  a  piece  of  bread  " 
It  is  most  true  that  was  anciently  spoken,  "  A  place 
20showeth  the  man  ;"  and  it  showeth  some  to  the  better 
and  some  to  the  worse.     "  Omnium^  consensu,  capax 
jniperii,  nisi  mifjerasset."  snith  Tacitus°   of  (;alba°- 
nut   ot    \espasian°    he   saith.    -Solus-    imperantiuin 
\cspasianus  mutatus   in   melius."     Though   the  one 
2.'iwas  nieant   of    sufliciency.o    the    other    of    manners 
and  affection.     It  is  -^n  assured  sign  of  a  worthy  and 
generous  spirit,  whom  honour  amen.ls.'^     For  honour 
IS,  or  should  be,  tlie  plnce  of  virtue:  an.l  ns  in  nature 
things  nmve  violently  to  fh,.ir  phic,..  and  calmly  in 
;^»  then-  place;  so  virtue  in  ambition  is  violent,  in  author- 
ity s<>ttlcd  and  calm. 


KSSAYS   nli   ((H'NSKLS   ('IV 11.    AM>    MuHAL        MT 

AH  il^iui:'  t  >  tiTcat  placf  is  l)v  a  winding  stair,  aixl, 
if  there  be  factions,  it   is  goocl  to  side  a  man's  self° 
vJiilst   he  is  in   tlic   lising.  and   to   ijahmce   himself' 
when  lie  is  i)hu'ed.      I'se  th(>  memory  of  thy  predt- 
c-ssor  fairly  and  tenderly;    for  if  thou  dost  not,  it  is 5 
;i   debt    will   sure   be    paid   when   thou   art   gone.      If 
thou  have  colleagues,  respect  them,  and  ratlier  call 
ilii'ia  whtii  tliey  look  not   for  it,  than  exclude  them 
when  they  have  reason  to  look  to  be  called.      Ik'  not 
i,)()  sc?isiblc  or  too  remembering  of  thy  place°  in  con- 10 
\trsation  and  private  answers  to  suitors;    but  let  it 
latiier  be  said,    ''When  he  sits  in  place  he  is  another 
iitau. 


XII.     OF    BOLDNKSS 

It  is  a  trivial  granmiar-school  text,  but  yet  worthy 
a  wise  man's  consideration.     (.Question  was  asked  of  l."» 
l)emosthenes,°   What  was  the  chief  part  of  an  orator? 
He     answered,      Action.       What      next  •.'  — Action. 
What  next  again?  —  Action,     lie  said  it   that  knew 
ii  best,  and  iiad  by  nature  himself  no  advantage  in 
that    he    commended.     A    strange    thing,    that    that'-'o 
part  of  an  orator  which  is  but  superhcial,  and  rather 
the  virtue  of  a  player,  shoidd  be  placed  so  high  above 
those  other  noble  ])arts  of  invention,  elocution,  and 
the  rest;    nay,  almost  alont-,  as  if  it  w(>re  all  in  all. 
Vni{  the  reason  is  plain.     There  k  in  human  nature 'JS 
generally   more  of  the  fool   than  of  the  wise;    and 
therefore  those  facidties  l)y  which   the  foolish   part 


i8 


KSSAVS   Oh'   rorysKI.S   VI VI I,   ,{ 


Ml   M'tUM. 


J'l'nHM.'sniin.Isislak.M,  arc  n.osl  potrnr.     Wnndcrr, 
like  IS  tho  case  of  UMwi 


first  • 
Hold 
cind 


B 


okincss/ 


W 


Kll 


IICSS. 


And 


vs   111    civil 
t     second 


i»usinc 
and 


W 


\('\  l)( 


rhird 


)idncss  is  a  child  of  i<inor, 


baseness,    tar    inf(M-ior    to    oti 


lat 


IIC(> 


nevertheless,   it   doth   f, 
foot   th 


ier    part> 


P.wt 


iscmate  and   hind   liaiid 


those  that  are  either  shallow  i,  judo„H,,t  .„ 
weak  ;n  courauv.  which  are  the  .liivatest  pai-t  •  v(.m 
and  prevailcth  with  wise  in(>n  at  W(vd<  tinu^  Theiv- 
10 Ore.  we  sec  it  hath  done  w.^nders  in  popular  state.  ° 
I'Ut  with  senates  and  princes  l(>ss;  and  inoiv  ex/.r 
upon  th(.  first  .>ntranc(.  of  hold  pc-rsons  into  action 
<iian  so.m  atter;  for  boldness  is  an  ill  keeper  ,.f 
})ronuse. 

15     Surely,  as  there  are  mountebanks^  for  th(>  natural 
iHKly.  so  are  tluMV  niount(>banks  for  the  politic  bodv 
men  that  undertake  o,,.at  cuivs.  and   perhaps  have' 
been  lucky  m  two  or  three  exp,M-iinents.  but  wrnt  the 
^n-ounds  ot  science,   and    fherefoiv  cannot    hold   o,n 
20Aay.  you  shall  s(.e  a  bold  tellow  nianv  times  d(,  Ma- 
homet s  miracle.      Mad.omet-  n.ad(.  the  people  l)(>liev(> 
that  he  would  call  an  hill  to  him.  and  fnmi  the  top  of 
It  offer  up  his  pnnvrs  for  the  observers  of  his  law 
ihe  people  assembled;   Mahomet    called    the   hill   to 
25 come  to   him.  a-ain    and    a-ain;  an<l  when   the  hill 
stood  sti  1   he  was  never  a   whit   abashed,  but   ^aid. 
It    the   hill   will    not   come   to   Mahomet.    Mahom(«t 
will  ,^o  to  the  hill."     So  iluw  m.n.  when  ,hev  have 
promised    ,<rreat    matters,    and    failed    most    shame- 
•«'tully;    yet,  if  they  have  the  perfection  of  boKlness, 


■■ 


f-:ss.iys  OR  (■or\s/-:Ls  <  rvn.    i.\7>  mohal      '.V^ 

(hcv  will  l)Ut  sli,<iht  it  over.  mihI  niak(>  a  turn,  and  no 
\\\i)vv  ado. 
Ccrtaiidy   to  hkmi  of  .uroat   jud.uincnt   hold  pcfson.'^ 
a  sj/oi't    to  Ix'hold  ;    nay.  and  to  the  xul^i'ai"  also 


;i;(' 


)(»I(IIU'» 


hatl 


1    soin( 


■what 


ol    \hv    ndiculons;    tor    it 


.ihsurdity  he  tlH>  suhjcct  of  lau,;il)t('r.  douht  you  not 
iiiil  urcat  holdiH^ss  is  seldom  without  sonic  ahsurdity. 
I  Ispcciallx',  it  is  a  sport  to  s(>('  when  a  l)old  hallow  is 
(lut  of  countenance,  tor  that  puts  his  face  into  a  most 
shrunken  and  wooden"  jM)sture.  as  n(>eds  it  must  ;  m 
l'(tr  ill  hashfuhiess  the  spirits  do  a  little  ^"o  and  come; 
hut  with  hold  men.  upon  like  occasion,  they  stand 
at  a  stay,  like  a  stale"^  at  chess,  where  it  is  no  mate.° 
hut  yv\  the  ,uam(>  cannot  stir.  But  this  last  w(>re 
litter  for  a  satire  than  for  a  serious  oliservation.  i.~i 

This  is  W(>11  to  h(^  wei^ihed.  that  holdness  is  (n(>r 
hlind:  for  it  s(H>th  not  dangers  and  inconveniences. 
Therefore  it  is  ill  in  counsel.  ,s2;ood  in  execution;  so 
that  the  risi'ht  us(^  of  hold  jkm'sohs  is  that  th(\v'  never 

mniand    in   chief,   hut   he  seconds,   and    und(M"   thc-jo 


CO 


direction  of  otluM's.  l'\)r  in 
(laniiers;  and  in  execution 
thev  h(^  Ncrv  ureat. 


it   is  ii'ood  to  s(>( 


o  see   til 


th 


>XCO]lt 


Xill.    OF  (lOODXKSS.  AND  (JOODXKSS  OF 

NATURE 


r  TAiv,;  ii'oodiK'ss   in    this  sens(\    the   arfectin.^Ji;   of° 
the   weal  of  men,   which  is   that    the  (Jreciaub  call  J." 


40 


ESSAYS   OR   (OrXSKLS   r/17/.   AXI)   MORAL 


philanthropin ;  and  th(^  word  "humanity."  as  it  is 
used,  is  a  little  too  liuhi  to  (\\pn\ss  it.  (loodnoss  1 
call  the  habit,  and  lioodiu^ss  of  naturo  tho  inrlinati(tn. 
This  of  all  v'irtiios  atid  diiinitics  of  the  mind  is  thn 
Sfircatost.  hcin^  the  {'haractor  of  th(^  I)(Mty;  aiui 
without  it  man  is  a  l)usy,  mischievous,  wretched 
thini;,  no  better  than  a  kind  of  vermin.  Goodness 
answers  to  tiie  theolo.uical  virtue  charity,  and  admits 
no  excess  but  error. °     The  desire  of  power  in  excess 

locaused  the  ani!;els  to  fall;  the  desire  of  knowledgt;  in 
excess  c  used  man  lo  fall;  but  in  charity  there  is  no 
excess,  neither  can  anuel  or  man  come  in  daiijier  by 
it.  The  inclination  to  o;oo<1ness  is  imprinted  deeply 
in  the  nature  of  man,  insomuch  that  if  it  issue  not 

istf/Wanls  mon,  it  will  take  unto  other  livin,a;  creatures: 
as  it  is  seen  in  the  Turks,  a  cru(>l  jx'ojile.  who  never- 
theless are  kind  to  b(>asts.  and  iri\e  alms  to  dogs  and 
birds;  insomuch,  as  Husbechins°  reporteth,  a  Chris- 
tian  boy   in   Constant ino))le   had   like   to   have   been 

'_>(> stoned  for  iragoing.  in  a  waggish ness,  a  long-billed 
fowl. 

J'>rors,  indeed,  in  this  virtue  of  goodness  or  charity 
may  be  e<:;mmitted.  The  Italians  have  an  ungra- 
cious  {iroverb,   "Tanio   buon   die   val   niente":    So 

25 good  that  he  is  gixxl  for  nothiiiu'.  And  cnv  of  tlu^ 
doctors  of  Italy,  Nicholas  .Machiav(^l,°  had  the  con- 
fidence to  put  in  writing,  ahiiosf  in  plain  ^erms, 
"that  the  (^hristian  faith  had  gi\en  up  good  men 
in  prey  to  those  that  are  tyrannical  and  unjust;'' 

.",0  which  he  spake  because  indeed  there  was  never  law, 


■w-fsa-vmnii 


FSSAYS  o/,'  rni  \sf-:i.s  rivn.  .\sit  yioini. 


n 


or  sect,  or  opinion,  tlid  ^<o  imicli  magnify  uoodncs;* 
as  the  (.hristian  religion  doth.     Therefore,  to  avoid 
the  seandal  antl  tlie  (hmger  both,  it  is  good  to  take 
l<!io\viedge   of   tlie   errors   of   an    habit    so   exeellent. 
Seek  the  good  of  otlier  men,  but  l)e  not  in  l)on(hi.ue  tor. 
their   faces   or   fancies;     for   tliat    is   but    facility    or 
.-'.ftness,    whicii    taketh    an    honest    mind    prisoner. 
Neither  give  thou  .Ksop's  coc'v°  a  gem,  who  would 
\)v  better  pleased  and  happier  if  he  had  a  bark'vcorn. 
I'he  exam})le  of  (lod  teachetli  the  k>sson  truly:    "  He  iti 
scii'.eth  liis  rain,  and  niakt>th  his  sun  to  shine,  upon  the 
pisl  and  unjust;"  '^  but  he  doth  n(>t  rain  wealth,  nor 
shine  honour  and   virtues,  upon  men  e<iually.     Com- 
mon benefits  are   to    be   conmumicate   with  all.  but 
peculiar  benefits  with  clioic(>.     And  beware  how   in  ir. 
making  the°  portraiture  thou   l)reakest   X\w  pattern; 
for  divinity  maketh  the  love  of  ourselves  the  jiattern, 
the  love  of  our  neighbours  but  the  i)ortraiture.     "Sell 
all  thou  hast,  anil  give  1'  to  the  poor,  and  follow  me."° 
l)Ut  sell  not  all  thou  hast  except  thou  come  and  follow  20 
me;  that   is,  except    thou  have  a  vocation,  wherein 
thou  mayest  do  as  much  good  with  little  means  a; 
witii  great;   for,   otherwise,   in    feeding   the   streams 
thou  driest  the  fountain. 

Neither  is  there  only  a  habit  of  goodness  directed  2ri 
by  right  reason,  but  there  is  in  sonic  men,  even  in 
nature,  a  disnositk)n  towards  it ;  as  on  the  other  side 
there  is  a  natural  malignity.  For  there  be  that  in 
their  nature  do  not  affect  the  good  of  others.  The 
lighter  sort  of  malignity  turneth  but  to  a  crossness,  30 


42 


ESSAYS    on   ((fCXSH/.S   civil.    .\\l>    MORAL 


or  trowanliK'ss.  or  aplticss  to  opjiosc,  or  <liflicil(Mioss,' 
or  the  like;  hut  the  dccixT  sort  to  ciivv  and  iiicrc' 
inis('hi(>l".     Such  ukmi   in  other  iiicn's  calaniitics  aic 


il 


tlioh 


•t' 


as  It  were.  \\\  season,  and  aic  excron  i  iicioacini^'  part 
r>  not  so  <i()0(l  as  the  (lo<is  that  lickecl  La/arus'  sores, '^ 
hut  like  flies  that  are  still  l)ii/zin<!;  upon  anything-  thai 
is  raw:  ndf^anthropl.^  that  make  it  their  pi'a('tic<'  to 
hriufi"  men  to  the  l)ou,ii;h.  and  yet  ha\"e  ne\"er  a  *V('o 
for   the   i)urp()se   in    th(>ir  ,!j;ar(l<Mis,   as   Timon^   had. 

loSiU'h  disj)ositions  are  the  \ery  errors  oi"  human  nature 
and  yet  they  are  the  fittest  timlxM-  to  make  .ureat 
politics"  of:  like  to  knee-timher,  that  is  <rood  for  slii{)s 
that  are  ordain<'(l  to  he  tossed,  hut  not  for  building 
houses  that  shall  stand  firm. 

15  The  parts  and  signs  of  goodness  are  many.  If  a 
man  be  gracious  and  courteous  to  strangers,  it  shows 
he  is  a  citizen  of  the  world, °  and  that  liis  heart  is  no 
island  cut  of^'  from  other  lands,  but  a  continent  that 
joins  to  them.      If  he  be  compassionate  towards  the 

•JO afflictions  of  others,  it  shows  that  his  heart  is  like 
the  noble  tree  that  is  wound(vl  its(>lf  when  it  giv(>s  the 
balm.  If  h(>  easily  pardons  nd  remits  ollences,  it 
shows  that  his  mind  is  plant(Ml  above  injuries,  so 
that  he  cannot  b(>  shot.      If  he  lu^  thankful  for  small 

•-'5 benefits,  it  shows  that  he  \veighs  men's  minds,  and 
not  their  trash. '^  Hut.  alxive  all.  if  he  have  St. 
Paul's  perfectioii,  that  he  would  wish  to  be  an  anath- 
ema from  Christ  for  the  salvation  of  his  brethren, ° 
it  shows  much  of  a  divine  nature,  and  a  kind  of  coU' 

;j()formity  witii  Christ   himself. 


KSSAYS   on   rOlXSHLS   ilVIL    AM)    Mo  HAL 


\:\ 


XIV.     OF    NOBILITY 

Wk  will  speak  of  n<)l)il!ty.  first  as  a  jiortion  of  an 
estate. °  then  as  a  eondition  of  particular  persons.     A 


nionan 


hv  where   ther(>  is  no   nohilitv  at   all.  is  ever 


a  pure  a 


ml  absolute  tvrannv,  as  that   of  tlu^  Turk 


for  nobility  att(Mn}K'rs°  soverei<i-nty.   and  draws   the.') 
eyes  of  the  people  somewhat  asid(>  from  the  line  royal. 
Hut  for  d(>m(K'raeies,  tlu\v  need  it   not:    and  th(\\'  are 
commoidy  more  (piiet.  anil  less  subject    to  s(>dition. 
than   where   there  are  stirj)s°   of   nobk's  :    for   men's 

e  nj)on  the  business,  and  not  upon  the  persons;  lo 


i.\V 


ar 


or  if  U])on  the  persons,  it  is  for  the  business'  sake,  a? 
fittest,  and  not  for  fla^s°  and  p(Mli<iree.  A\  e  see  the 
Switzers°  last  well,  notwithstandinji'  their  dixcrsity 
of  religion,  and  of  cantons. °  for  utility  is  their  bond, 
and  not  respects. °  The  I'nited  Provinces  of  theli 
Low  Countries  in  their  .iiovernment  excel  :  for  where 
th(>re  is  an  equality,  the  consultations  are  more  in- 
different,°  and  the  payments  .and  tributes  more 
cheerful.     A     fjreat     and     potent     nobility 


(Uleth 


majesty  to  a  monarch,  but  diminisheth  power;  and  l'o 
putteth  life  and  spirit  into  the  peoi)le.  but  press(>th° 
their  fortune.  It  is  well  when  nobles  are  not  too 
j;reat  for  sovereij^nty  nor  for  justice,  and  yet  main- 
tained in  that  heiiiht  as  the  insolency  of  inferiors  may 
be  broken  upon  them.  l)efore  it  come  on  too  fast  uponi».'i 
the  majesty  of  kin,i;-s.     A   numerous  nobility  car.seth 


poverty  and  incon 


ivenienee  in  a  state,  for  it  is  a  sur- 


44 


xssAYs  OR  ( f)rysi:Ls  (  ivil  and  moral 


chargo  of  cxpciiM'  ;  and.  iK'sidcs,  it  luMiisi  of  necessity 
that  many  of  tlH>  nobility  fall  in  linie  to  be  weak  in 
fortune,  it  niaketh  a  kind  of  disj)roi)ortion  between 
honour  and  UK'ans. 
5  As  for  nobility  in  particular  ))ers()ns,  it  is  a  rev- 
erend thing  to  see  an  aneient  castle  or  buildinui;  not 
in  decay,  or  to  see  a  fair  tlnilx'r-tree  sound  and  per- 
fect;  how  much  more  to  behold  an  ancient  and  noble 
family    which    haih    stood    against    the    wav(^s    and 

10 weathers  of  time.  I"or  new  nobility  is  but  the  net 
of  j)ower.  but  ancient  nobiliiy  is  the  act  of  lime. 
Those  that  are  first  raised  to  nobility  iwo  connnotily 
more  virtuous, °  but  less  !nnoc(Mit,  than  their  descend- 
ants, for  there  is  rarely  any  rising  but  by  a  conmiix- 

i.")tm*e°  of  good  and  evil  arts;  but  it  is  reason  the 
memory  of  their  virtues  remrdn  to  their  posterity,  and 
their  fnults  (iie  with  t*ieniselves.  Nobility  of  birth 
commonly  abateth  industry,  ae.d  he  th:it  is  not  indus- 
trious envieth   him   that    is.      Besides   noble   persons 

20 cannot  go  much  higher;  a!id  he  that  stancleth  at  a 
stay,  when  otiiers  rise,  can  hardly  avoid  motions  of 
(^nxy°  Oti  the  other  side,  nobility  extinguisheth  the 
})assive  envy  frotn  others  towards  them,  because  they 
are  in   possession  of  honoiu'.     Certainly,   kings   that 

25  have  able  men  of  their  noliility  sli;dl  find  ease  in  em- 
ploying them,  and  a  better  slide  into  tlnMr  business; 
for  people  naturally  bend  to  them,  as  born  in  some 
sort  to  command. 


KSSAYS   on   rfjr\si:/.S   I  IVII,    AM)     M'jHAL 


XV 


UF    SKDITIOXS    AM)    THOIBLES 


Wll 


■^HKPHKUDs  of  |)rM)))l('  liiul  JH'cd  kiitiw  ilic  calciuhirs*' 
tciii|i('sts  in  state,  wliic'ti  air  ('oniiiu)nly  <!;n^Mt('st 
en  things  <iro\v  to  ('C|ualily;    as  n:itin"al  t(in})(.'sts 


urcatcst  al)i»ut  the  (yuiiKiclnt. 


And  as  there  are 


ccitain  hollow  blasts  ot'  wintl,  atui  secret  swellings  ofr» 
.  -as,  before  a  teinjiest.  so  are  there  in  states: 

**  lUe  etiain""  ca'oos  instaiv  tuninltus 
Sa'pt"  iiioiiii,  truu.lf.  <iar  el  uiicila  liuiif.sccre  bflirt." 

Libels  and  licentious*^  discotn'sns  against  the  state, 
whi'ii  thev  are  fre(jii(>t:1  and  ojh  n.  and  in  like  sort  10 
i;il-e  news  often  rnmiing  np  and  down  to  the  dis- 
ad\  antagc  of  \'\\i:  state,  and  hastily  enil)raced.  are 
•(iii(.ng>t  the  signs  of  troubles.  X'irgil,  giving  the 
peiligree  of  l'anie.°  saith  she  was  sisKM'  to  the  giants: 


111; 


uii 


Terra'  paiviis,  ira  Miitata  Dtonuii, 


IS 


Kxtrt'inaiii.  ut  pti-hibeiit.  t'li-o  KiicrladoqiU' sororein 
Pr(ii:t'iuiit.'' 


ts    1 


f  fai 


nes    u 


ere   Uie   relics  of  >    iitions   past  ;    but 


ii< 


v  are  no  less  indeed   I  he  p'reludes  of  seditions  to 


'ome 


Howsoe\-ei-  h(^  iiotet!)   il    right,  thai    s(Mlitious -JO 


lunmlts  and  seditions  fames  differ  no  more  but  as 
lirother  and  sister,  masculine  and  feminine;  esijecially 
if  it  come  to  tliat.  that  tiie  l)esr,  actions  of  a  slate, 
and  the  mttst  plausil)l(«,'-'  and  which  ought  to  ;_ive 
greatest  cont(Mitmenl,  are  taken  in  ill  sense  and  2.1 
tratluc(^d  ;    for  that  shows  the  envy  great,  as  Tacitus'^ 


4(;         E'SS.IYS   OA'   rnrXSKLS   CIVIL   AXH   MOHaL 


snlth.  "('()iifl:ita°  ina^na  iiividia.  sou  bono,  .s*ni  malo 


Kosta    prcinuiit, 


Xoithor    (loth   it    follow   that    l)o- 


oaiiso  those  faiuos  aro  a  si<j;ii  of  troublos,  that°  the 
sii{)j)rossin,n-  of  thoin  with  too  iiiiich  sovority  should 
1)0  a  roniody  of  troubN^s.  l-'oi-  tho  dos{)ising  of  thorn 
many  times  checks  thoni  I)ost  ;  a!id  tho  «2;oin,iz;  about  to 
stop  them  doth  l)Ut  make  a  wonder  loiiir-livod.  Also 
that  kind  of  oix-dieneo  which  Tacitus  spoakoth  of 
is  to  be  held  suspected:  "  l']rant°  in  officio,  sod  tamen 
ilent  mandata  imperantium  interprotari,  quan. 
is|)utin,u,  excusinii'.  caxillinj!;   upon  nian- 


Kxpii  ma 
0X0(1  ui. 


1) 


dates   and   dii'ections.    is   a    kind     >f  shakinji,   ot^'   th 
yoke,   and    assay"^   of  disobediencr ;     especiallv    if   in 
those   disputin^s    they    which    are    for    tho   direction 

la  speak  fearfully  and  tenderly,  and  those  that  aro 
a;nainst  it  audacionsly. 

Also,  as  Maehia\cl°  nototh  well,  when  princes, 
that  ouuiit  to  be  c()mm<»n  |)arents,"  niak(^  thomsolves 
as  a  party  and  lean  to  a  sid(\  it  is  as  a  boat  that  is 

20 overthrown  by  un(>\('n  woi<iht  on  the  one  side;  as 
was  well  seen  in  the  lime  of  Henry  III.  of  France: 
for  first  himself  (Miterod  loaiiiie^  for  tho  oxtirj)atioii 
of  the  i'roU'stants,  and  j)rosontly  after  tho  same 
loa^U(^  was  turned  upon  himself.     For  when  tho  au- 

25thority  of  j)riiic  -s  made  but  an  accessary  to  a  cause, 
and  that  there  *  'ler  bands  that  tie  faster  than  the 
band  of  sovoroi,<j;u.y,  kin<is  beji^in  to  bo  put  almost 
out  of   p(tssession. 


Al 


so,    when    (Iisc( 


)rds,   and   f|uarrels,   and   factions, 
are  carried  ojionly  ami  audaciously,  it  is  a  sign  tho 


KSSAYS   OR   COrXSKLS   r/Vfl.    AX  It   Mi  Hi  A  I. 


17 


il 


r< 


■vpronro  of  °  «2;()vrrnni('nt  is   lost.     For  tlic   niotioiis 


if  the  ^iroatcst    piM'sons   in   a  liovcrniiHMif    on; 


'lit    t 


o 


i)(>  as  the  motions  ot  the  planets  nndcr  pnitiutii 
itiohilc.^  af'('onlin<i  to  tiu^  o!''  opinion,  wliicli  is  tliat 
(vrrv  of  tlicin  is  carriod  swiftly  by  tlu>  hi,iili(>st  motion,". 
;iii(l  softlv  in  their  own  motion.  Ap^I  therefore  when 
'ii-e.'it  iMies  in  their  own  parlici;';ir  nifition"  tn(.ve 
violently,  and,  as  Taeitns  eNpresseth  it  well.  "  liherins.'^ 
(|uatii  nt  imperantinm  meminissent."  it  is  a  sii!;n  the 
orhs  are  out  of  frame.  I'or  n>\-erenee  is  that  wIumv- lo 
with  princes  are  jiirt  from  (loil.  who  thn^ateneih  the 
(lissolvinij;   thereof:     "Solvam'^   eiiijiula    r(>^nm." 

So  when  any  of  '.he  four  j)illars  of  ,i«;<)V(>rmnenJ  are 
mainly  shaken  or  wc^akened  (which  ai'e  relijiion. 
just  ice.  counsel,  and  treasure),  men  had  need  to  |)ray  15 
for  fair  weather.  Hut  let  us  pass  from  this  jjarf^ 
of  j^redietions  (concerning;  which,  nc^vertheless,  more 
lijiiit  may  be  taken  from  that  which  foUoweth),  JUid 
ief  us  speak  first  of  the  materials  of  seditions;  tluMi 
of  the  motixes  of  tluMii;   and  thirdly  of  the  remedies,  jo 

Concerning  the  mat(>rials  of  seditions,  it  is  a  lhin<!; 
well  to  Uo  considered!;  for  the  surest  way  to  pre\"ent 
seditions,  if  tlie  times  do  bear  it,""  is  to  take  away  the 
matter  of  them.  For  if  there  be  fuel  pre})ared,  it  is 
hard  to  tell  wluMice  the  spark  shall  come  that  shall -jn 
set    it    on   fire.     The   matter  of    seditions   is  of  two 


.iiid 


s:  much  poverty,  and  nnicli  discontentment. 
It°  is  certain,  so  many  overthrown  estates,  so  many 
votes  for  troubles,  Lucan°  noteth  well  the  state  of 
Home  before  *he  civil  war: 


;3(i 


48 


J'JSSAYS    (HI   (fj/XShLS   en  If.    JX/i    MORAL 


'•  Iliiic  iisura'  vnra\,  lapidiiiiujiu'  in  teiiipc.n^  tn-iius, 
lliiic  I'uiH'u.ssa  litks.  vi  mult  is  utile  belluin.'" 

This  saiiK^  "itmltis  mile  l)olliuir'  is  ;m  assurod 
and  infallible  siucii  of  a  state  disju)scd  to  soditioDS  and 
ntronhlcs.  And  if  this  )).,)V('rly  and  hi-okcn  estate  in 
the  i)etter  SOI  1  !)<>  joined  with  a  want  and  ncM'ossity 
in  the  in(>an  people.  rh(>  dan,iier  is  inmiinent  and  ureat  ; 
for  the  rebellions  of  tlie  l)elly  are  tlu^  worst.  As  for 
diseontentnients,   they   are   in    th(>    {K)litie    f)ody    like 

10  to  hunionrs°  in  the  natural,  which  are  apt  to  gather  a 
preternatural  h(>at.  and  to  inflame.  And  let  no  j^rinee 
measiu'c  the  danuer  of  theni  by  this.'^  wlx^ther  they 
be  just  or  unjust,  for  tliat  W(M-e  to  iniajiine  peo|)le  to 
be  too  reasonable,  who  do  often  spurn  at  their  own 

ir»^ood;  nor  yet  l)y  this,  wln^ther  the  ,<2;riefs  whereu|)on 
they  ri.se  be  in  faet  ijreat  or  small,  for  they  are  th(^ 
most  danfjerous  diseontentnients  wh(M'e  the  f(>ai-  is 
greater  than  the  feelin.u-:  "  I)olendi°  modus,  timendi 
non  itcnii. "     H(>sides,  in  great  o])pressi()ns,  the  same 

•JO  things  that  provoke  the  passions  do  withal  mat(>° 
the  courage;  but  in  f(\ars  it  is  not  so.  Neither  let 
any  prince  or  state  be  .secure  concerning  discontent- 
ment.s,  })e;'ause  they  have  been  often  or  have  been 
long,  and  yet  no  peril  hath  ensued;    for  as  it  is  true 

L'a  that  every  vapour  or  fume  dot^i  not  turn  into  a  storm, 
so  it  is  nevertheless  tru(>  that  storms,  though  they 
blow  over  divers  times,  yet  may  fall  at  last ;  and. 
as  the  Sj)anisli  ))r(n-(n'b  noteth  W(»ll.  "The  eord° 
breaketh  at  liie  last  by  the  weakest  pull." 

30     The  causes  and  nioti\es  of  seditions  are  iiiiiovatioii 


bMM 


WN^*-4^i^ 


ESSAYS    ()l{   rnrXSKLS   (  I  \/ L    .IXI>    MoliAL 


A\) 


in  religion,  ta\«'s.  allcration  ul'  laws  and  customs, 
breaking  of  privileges,  geiiei-al  oppn^ssion.  aclvance- 
inent  of  unworthy  peisoiis.  strangers,  dearths,  dis- 
banded soldiers,  factions  gi-uwn  tlesperate;  and 
whatsoever  in  offending  people  joinetli  and  knittelh"' 
them  in  a  connnon  cause. 

For  the  lemedies.  there  may  he  some  general 
|)n>servatives,  whereof  we  will  sp-cak:  as  for  the 
jr,st°  cure,  it  nuist  answ(>r  to  the  particular  disease, 
and  so  be  l{>ft  to  counsel  I'ather  than  rule.  ii 

The  first  remedy  or  pii'vention  is  to  n^nove  by 
;ill  m(>ans  possible  that  material  cause  of  sedition 
wIk  reof  we  sj)ake.  which  is  want  and  po\erty  in  the 
estate.  To  which  purpose  servelh  the  opening  and 
well-balancing  of  trade, the  clu>rishingof  manuiac lures,  i.i 
(he  banishing  of  idleness,  the  repressing  of  waste  and 
excess  by  sunii)tuary  la\vs,°  the  imj)rovement  and 
husbanding  of  the  soil,  the  regulatitig  of  j)rices  of 
things  vendible,  the  mo(l(M-ating  of  taxes  and  tributes, 
and  the  like.  CuMierally  it  is  to  be  foreseen  that  the  20 
po[)ulation  of  a  kingdom,  especially  if  it  be  not  mown 
down  by  wars,  do  not  cxcccmI  the  stock"  of  the  king- 
dom which  should  maintain  them.  Neither  is  the 
l)opuIation  to  be  reckoned  only  by  number;  for  a 
smaller  number  that  sj)en(l  more  and  earn  less,  do  lTj 
wear  out  an  estate  sooner  than  a  greater  number  that 
live  lower  and  gather  n>'>"e.  Therefoi'e,  the  nudti- 
plying  of  nobility  and  (,..ier  degrees  of  (|uality,  in 
an  over  proportion  to  the  common  peopk',  doth 
speedily   bring  u  state  to  necessity";    unil  so  dotliAi 


KSSAYS    Oh'    ral  XSK/.S   ilVIL    AM)    MORAL 


likewise  an  oxci'urowii  cleruy,  for  tliey  hrlDfi-  ii(:'!iiii»i; 
to  the  stock;  and  in  like  manner,  when  more  are  bred 
scholars  than  preferments'^  can  take  off. 

It  is  likewise  to  he  riMnemhered  that,  forasmuch 
r>a.s  the  increase  of  any  estate'^  nuist  he  upon  the  for- 
ei<;iier''  (for  whatsoever  is  somewhen^  gotten  is  some- 
where lost),  there"  1h>  i)Ut  thi'ee  things  wlii(  h  on(> 
nation  selleth  unto  another:  the  connuodity  as  nature 
yielleth    it.    the   manufacture,   antl   the   vectiu'e°   or 

iocairiau;e.  So  that  if  tlic.^e  three  wlieels  <2;o.  wealth 
will  How  as  in  a  spring"  tide.  And  it  cometh  many 
times  to  pass  that  "materiam°  supc^rahit  oi)Us/' 
that  the  wo'-k  and  carria^ie  is  more  wortli  than  the 
material,  and  enricheth  a  state  more;  us  is  notahly 

ir)S(H'n  in  the  Low-("ountrymen,  who  iiave  the  hest 
mines  al)ove  i2;roimd°  in  the  world. 

.Vbove  all  thinirs  good  j)o!icv  is  to  he  used,  that  the 
treasure  and  moneys  in  a  state  he  not  gathered  into 
few  hands:    for  otiu^rwise  a  state  may  have  a  great 

•JO  stock,  and  yet  starve.  And  money  is  like  muck,° 
not  good  except  it  he  spreail.  This  i.  done  chieHy 
hv  sup|)ressing,  or,  at  the  least,  keeping  a  strait^ 
hand  upon  the  devouring  trades  of  usury ,°  engross- 
ing,°  great   |)astnrages.°  and  the  like. 

•jr>  For  rcMnoNing  discontentments,  or  at  least  the 
danger  of  thein,  there  is  in  every  state,  as  we  know, 
two  [)ortions  of  suhjerts,  the  nohlesse°  and  Ww 
commonalty.  When  one  of  tiiese  is  discontent,  the 
danger  is  not  great;    for  common  ))(H)ple  are  of  slow 

.k)i!i(»tion  if  they  he  not  excited  hy  the  greater  sort; 


ESSAYS    on   COrXSKLS    civil.    AM)    MORAL 


and   t'.io  ,uroal(M-  sort    an*  of  small   stfciiutli.   cncc))! 
the  nmltinuU^  \)v  \\\)\   and   rcadx'   to  ino\<'  ot"  tlicin- 
si'lves.     Then   is   the   Maii.ii'cr,   wlicii   the  ur(>at('i-  soil 
do  l)Ut  wait  for  the  ti'ouMiii^'  of  liu'  waters  aiiioii^si 
the  nic  lU'i',  that   then  they  may  declare  lhen:sel\'es.  a 
The  |H)(>ts  feijun  that  the  rest  of  the  ,i;o(ls  would  iia\'e 
hoi'iid  ,Iui)iter'~- ;    whieli  he  hearini;;  of.  i)y  the  counsel 
of  I'allas^  sent  for  Hriareus"^  with  his  hundi'e(i  hands 
to  come  in   to   his   aid.     An   emblem,    no  doubt,   to 
show  liow  safe  it  is  for  monarchs  to  make  sure  of  theio 
oood-will  of  connnon  ))(m>))1('. 

To  ^ive  moderate  liberty  for  «iriefs  and  iliseontent- 
nients  to  evaporate,  so  it  be  without  too  iireat  in- 
s(^lency  or  bnivery,'^  is  a  safe  way  ;  for  he  that  turneth 
the  luimours  })ack,  and  maketh  the  wound  bleed  15 
inwards,  endanjien^th  malign  ulcers  and  pernicious 
impost  humat  ions.  ° 

The  part  of  Epimetheus^  mought^  well  })ecome 
l'ronietheus°  in  th(>  case  of  discontentments:  for 
there  is  not  a  bettor  provision  against  them.  l']pi-2() 
metheus,  when  griefs  and  evils  flew  abroad,  at  last 
shut  the  lid,  and  kei">t  IIopi^  in  the  bottom  of  the 
vessel.  Certainly  the  politic  and  artificial"  nourish- 
ing and  entertaining  of  hoj)es,  and  carrying  men 
from  ho}H\s  to  hopes,  is  one  of  the  best  antidotes *_'.'■< 
against  the  })oison  of  discontentments.  And  it  is  a 
certain  sign  of  a  wise  government  and  proceed- 
ing, when  it  can  hold  men's  hearts  l)y  hopes,  when 
it  caiuiot  by  satisfaction;  and  when  it  can  handle 
things  in  such  manner,  as  no  evil  shall  appear  sosu 


52 


hSS.lYS   Oh'   rc/xsKLS   (III/.    AXh    MO  HAL 


peremptory^  hut  tluit  it  hatli  some  outlet  of  liope; 
which  is  the  less  hard  to  do,  because  both  particular 
persons  and  factions  are  apt  enough  to  flatt(»r  them- 
selves, or  at  least  to  brave°  that  which  they  believe 
5  not. 

Also  the  foresight  and  ])revention  that  there  be  no 
likely    or    fit    head    whereunto   discon.tented    persons 
may   resort,   and   under  whotn   they   may  join,   is   n 
known  but  an  excellent  point  of  caution.     1   und(>r- 
10 stand  a  lit    head  to  be  one  that  hath  j;reatness  and 
reputation;     that    hath   confidence   witli   the  discon- 
tented f)arty,  and  upon  whom  they  turn  their  t'\'es; 
and   that    is   thoujj;ht  discontented   in   his  own   par- 
ticular:   whicli  kind  of  persons  are  either  to  be  won 
inand  reconcil(>(l  to  the  state,  and  that  in  a  fast  and  true 
manner;    or  to  be  fro!it<'d°  with  some  other  of  the 
same  party  that  may  oppose  them,  and  so  di\ide  the 
reputation.     (Jenerally,  the  divitling  antl  breaking  of 
all    factions   and    combinations   that    are   adverse    to 
iJOthe  state,  and  setting  them  at  distance,  or  at   least 
distrust,  amongst  themselves,  is  not  one  of  the  worst 
remedies.      For  it    is  a  desperate  case  if  those  that 
hold   with    the    proceedings   of   the   state   be   full   of 
discord  and  faction,  and  those  that  are  against  it  be 
2r> entire  and  united. 

1  have  noted  that  some  witty  and  sharp  speeches 

which   have   fallen  from   princes  have  given   fire  to 

seditions.     Ctesar  did   himself   infinite   hurt   in   that 

speech,  "Sylla'^  nescivit  literas,  non  potuit  dictare;" 

30 for  it  did  utterly  cut  ofi"  that  inj\ni  which  men  had 


KSSAYS   on   COrXSKLS   ilVII.    AX  It    MURAL 


i)o 


(MiiortiiiiHMl.  tlia!  lie  would  at  one  time  or  otlier  ii'ivo 
,»\(r  his  dictatorship,  (lall)a"  undid  himself  by 
that  spocch.  "  LrL'i°  a  so  inihtcni.  non  (Mui."  for  it  put 
tlu^  s()ldi(M's  out  of  ho])o  of  tho  (h)nativo.°  l*roi)Us'^ 
likcuisf  by  that  spooch,  "Si  vixcio."  hop.  o))us  crit  .") 
auiphus  'ioniauo  iinjU'rio  miiitihus."  a  spcccli  of  cjroat 
dcspaii"  for  tlic  soidicM's.  And  many  the  hk<\  Surciy, 
princes  hiad  ihhhI,  in  tonch^r  matters  and  tici-ciisli  times, 
tn  beware  what  they  say;  es|)ecialiy  in  tiiesc^  short 
sp(»eches,  which  fly  aliroad  lik(^  darts  and  are  tliou^ht  !<• 
to  b(>  shot  out  of  their  secret  intentions.  I'or  as  for 
laru;e  discourses,  they  are  flat°  things,  and  not  so  much 
ii()t(vl. 

Lastly,  let  princes,  against  all  events,  not  be  with- 
out some  <;reat  |)erson,  one,  or  rather  more,  of  mili- i.") 
taiy  valour   near    unto    them,  for    the    reim^ssitifi   of 
■^editions    in    tluMr    beginnings;     for    without     that, 
lh(M'(>  useth°  to   be   more   trepidation,    in   court    upon 
the  first  breaking;  out  of  troubles  than  were  fit.      And 
I  he  state  runneth  the  danger  of  that  which  Tacitus  20 
saitli :  "  Atque  is°  habitus  animorum  fuit.  ut  pessinumi 
facinus  auderent  ])auci.  j)lures  vellent,  onuu^s  patei(>n- 
tiir. "     Hut  lei  such  military  |)ersons  in'  assured  and 
well  reputed  of,  rather  than   factious  and   popular°; 
holding   also   good    correspondence"   with    the   oth(>r-'5 
great  nven  in  the  state;    or  else  the  remedy  is  worse 
than  the  disease. 


r)4        J-JSSA^S   OH   COIXSKLS   LlVIL    AXD   MORAL 


XVI.     OF    ATHEISM 


I  HAD  rather  hoIicNc  all  tlio  fahlos  in  tlio  Legend,"    i 
and  the  Talmud. °  and  the  Alcoran, °  than  that  this 
nnivorsal   franu^   is  without    a  mind.     And  therefore 
(lod    Jiever   wrought    miracle   to   convince"   atheism. 
.'■.  because   his  ordinary   works  convince  it.      It   is  true 
that   a    little    philosophy'^    inclineth    man's   mind    to 
atheism,    hut    depUi    in    philoso))hy    bringeth    men's 
minds  about  to  I'eligiou;    for  whil(»  the  mind  of  man 
looketh  upon  second  causes°  scatt(>red,  it  may  sonie- 
10 times  rest    in  them  and  go  no  further;    i)ut  when  it 
beholdeth  rh(>  chain  of  them  confederate  and  linked 
togetluM-.  it  must  n(>eds  fly  to  Providence  and  Deity. 
Xay,  even  that  school  which  is  most  accused  of  athe- 
ism doth  most  demonstrate  religion  :  that  is,  the  school 
15 of    Leucip}Kis.°    and    l)emocritus,°    and     Kpicurus.'' 
For  it  is  a  thousand  times  more  credible  that  four 
mutable  elenuMits.  and  one  inunutal)le  fifth  essence,'^ 
duly  and  etertially  placed,  need   no  (lod,  than  that 
an  army  of  infinit(>  small  {portions  orseeds,°  unplaced, ° 
20 -should  have  jHYuluced  this  order  and  beauty  without 
a  divine  marshal. 

The  Scrii)ture°  saith,  ''The  fool  hath  said  in  his 
heart.  There  is  no  (lod."  It  is  not  said.  "The  fool 
hath  thought  in  his  heart;"  so  as  he  rather  saith  it 
25  by  rote  to  himself,  as  that°  he  would  have,  than  that 
he  can  thoroughly  believe  it,  or  ])e  persuaded  of  it. 
For  none  deny  there  is  a  (lod,  but  those  for  whom  it 


ESSAYS    OR   CUrXSKLS   CIVII.    AM)    MOh'AI.        iV) 


iiKikclli    tliat    \\\VYV   were   no  (iod.      It    ;i))]tc;irctli    in 
iiothiriii'  more  that  atluMsni  is  rather  in  the  hp  than 
ill  the  heart  of  man  than  hv  this,  tliat   atiieists  will 
cvcf   be    talkin<i;   of    that    their    opinion,    as    if    tiiev 
fainted  in  it°  within  themselves,  and  would  he  <ilad  to.". 
he    stretifithened    by    the    consent    of    otheis.     Nay 
!uof<\  you  shall  have  atheists  strive  to  ^'et  discij)les. 
as  it  fareth  with  other  sects;   and.  which  is  ni(»st   of 
all.  you  shall  have  of  th(>m  that  will  sutler  for  atheism, 
and  not  recaiu  ;   wluM'eas  if  thev  did  truly  think  that  id 
liu're  were  no  such  thin,i>;  as  (iod.  why  should   they 
trouble  themselves?     l']picurus  is  charucd  that  he  did 
hut  dissemble  for  his  credit's  sake,  when  he  allirmc^d 
there    were    bl(>ssed    natures,    but    such    as    enjoyed 
ilieniseh'es  without  having'  respect  to  the  liox'ernment  l". 
of  the  worhl.      Wherein,  they  say.  \\v  did  temj)orize. 
thou<ili  in  secret  he  thou<2;ht  there  was  no  (Iod.      But 
certaiidy  he  is  traduced,  for  his  words  are  noble  and 
diviiK*:     "  Non    deos°    vul.ui    neuare    profanum;     s(>(l 
vuliii    opinioties    diis    applicare    profaiimn."      I'lato'  •_'(> 
could  have  said  no  more.     And  althouuh  he  had  th(^ 
contidence   to  tleny   the  administration,   he   had    not 
the  power  to  deny  th'^  nature. °     The  Indians  of  the 
West   huve  names  for  their  })articiilar  '•dds,   th()u<ih 
th(\v  have  no  name  for  (!od  :  as  if  \\\v  heath<Mis  should  l'.-. 
have  had  the  names  Jupiter, °  A])ollo,°  Mars,°  etc., 
but  not  the  word  Dcus;  wliich  sliows  thiat  evcMi  those 
barbarous  ])eoj)le  liave  the  notioti,  thou<!;h  tliey  liave 
not  the  latitude  and  extent   of  it.     So  that   against 
atheists  the   very  savages   take   j)art   with   the  very:y» 


r>G 


KSSAYS   <Jh'   r/,/XSKLS   i  IVII.    AM 


>   Mnu.if, 


siihtilf^t    pliil(»so|)lier.s.     Tlie    CDiiloniplaf ivc'-'  ntheLst 

is  rare  -  a   l)ia<;(.ras,°  a   Hioii.^  a    Liiciaii'  perhaps. 

and  some  olliers       and   yet    they   seem   to   be   more 

than   tliey  are.   for  that   all   lliat    impujijn  a  receixed 

5  religion,   or  suj)erstition.    are,    by    the   a(iverse   j)art, 

branded  witii   the  name  of  atheists.      Jiut    tiie  ^n-at 

atheists,    iiulecd,    are    ii\])oerites.     which     are    e\cr 

liandhnji  holy  thin«;-s,  but  without  feeling-;   so  as  they 

must  needs  be  cauteri/ed  in  the  end. 

li>      The  eanses  of  atheism  are:    divisions   in   religion, 

if  they  be  many,  for  any  one  main  division  adchth 

zeal    to    both    .-ides,    but    many    divisions    introduee 

atheism.     .Another  is  scandal  of  priests, "^  when  it    is 

con»e   to  that    which  St.    Bernard'   saith.   "  Xon  est'' 

lojam  dicere.   ut    populus,   sic  sacerdcis:    quia   ne-    sic 

populus,  ut  sacerdos. "     A  third  is  custom  of  profane 

scoffing  in   holy   matters,   which  doth   l)y    little  and 

little  deface  the  reverenc(>  of  religion.     .\nd,  lastly, 

learned   times.  si)ecially    with   peace  and   prosperitv; 

2()for    troubles    and    adversities    do    more    bow    men's 

minds   to  religion. ° 

They  that  (h'uy  a  (iod  destroy  man's  nobility: 
for  certainly  man  is  of  kin  to  the  beasts  by  his  l")dv. 
and  if  he  be  not  of  kin  to  ( Jod  by  his  sj)irit.  h(>  is  a 
25  base  and  ign()bie  creatm-e.°  It  destroys  likewise 
niagnanimity.  and  the  raising  of  human  nature. 
Fijr  take  an  exarn})le  of  a  dog.  and  mark  what  a 
generosity  and  courage  he  will  put  on  when  he  finds 
himself  maintained  by  a  man.°  who  to  him  is  instead 
;<oof  a  (iod,  or  mclior  natun(° ;  which  courage  is  mani- 


ESSAYS  on  I  Of  WSJ-:  Ls  ( nil,  .ixn  m<h{al 


\u 


=1 

I 


I'cstly  such  as  that  (fcaiuro.  without  that  (-onhdcMico 
<)[■  a  better  tiaturc*  than  his  own,  could  nev(>r  attain. 
So  man.  wlien  lie  resieth  and  assufetli  himsoh"  upon 
divine  protection  and  faxouf.  jiathefeth  a  fofce  and 
laith  which  human  natufe  in  itself  could  not  obtain.. ^ 
Therefore  as  atheism  is  in  all  respects  hateful,  so  in 
;his,  that  it  depri\-eth  human  nature  of  th.e  means 
!o  exalt  it-ilf  above  human  frailty.  As  it  is  in  par- 
ticular persons,  so  it  is  iti  nation.s.  \ever  was  then^ 
-uch  a  state  for  magnanimity  as  Home:  of  this  state  lo 
hear  what  ('icer()°  saith:  "(^uam  \-.iiinus^  licet, 
pat  res  c(mscrij)ti.  nos  amemus.  tamen  nee  numcro 
Hispanos,  nee  robore  (iallos,  nee  calliditate  I'a'nos, 
iKc  artibus  (ira'cos  n(>c  denique  hoc  ij)so  hujus  ,<i;entis 
ct  terra^  domestico  nativrxpie  sensu  Italos  ipsos  et  15 
Latinos;  s(>d  pietate,  ac  reli.uione,  atfpie  hac  una 
sapientia,  (piod  deoruni  inunortaliutn  mimine  omnia 
re<ii  ji;ubernarique  persj)exiniiis,  onuics  gentes  natioii- 
es(pie  superavimus. " 


XVIL     OF   SrPKRSTITION 

It  were  better  to  have  no  opinion  of  God  at  all-'o 
than  .such  an  opinion  a^  is  imworthy  of  him;  for  the 
oiK^  is  unbelief,  the  other  is  contumely. °  And  cer- 
lainly  supers! it ioii  is  the  repjroach  of  the  Deity. 
!Mutarch°  .saith  well  to  that  purpose:  "Surely," 
saith  he,  "  I  had  ratluM-  a  <!;reat  d(>al  ukmi  should  say  2:. 
there  was  no  such  man  at  all  as  IMutarch,  than  thai 


"8 


ESSAYS   Oh'   roi  XSh'LS   (  Il'/L     LV 


t'    .u'/n.iij 


tlioy  sliould  say  that   tiici 


•('  was  one   I'lutarcli  that 


would  cat  his  chiNh-cMi  as  soon  as  thcv  were  1 

r...    <- 1, i I  r  ^  <      .  ^  >         .  '     . 


as  tl 


fHH'is  spcaK  oi  .>atuni."     And  as  the 


* 


JN    ^rcaicr    lowanis    iiod 
5  towards   men.     Atheism   i 


■><»      (IK 

icavcs   a 


MUUIfUMy 


■ij^«  1       1.^      i;i  tiil«"I 


«ii     tw    :^^■l^ 


philosophy,  to  natural  piety,  to  laws,  to  rrputation. 
all  which  may  he  liuides  to  an  outward  moral  virtue, 
thou.i.di  rcli.iiion  were  n(»t.     Jiut  superstiticn  dismounts 
all  these,  and  erec.elh  an  absolute  nionaiv-hy  in  th(> 
10  minds  of  men.     Therefore  atheism  did  never  {)orturl) 
states,    for    it    makes    men    wary    of    themselves,    as 
looking  no  further.     And  we  see  the  tiiues  inclined 
to  atlu«ism   (as  the   time  of  Au,u:ustus  (  a'sar°)   were 
civiP  times.     But  superstition   hath   been    the   con- 
15  fusion  of  maiiy  states,  and  hriiiireth  in  a  new  primum 
nwhUe"  that  ravishetli°  all  the  s|>heres  of  government. 
The  master  of  superstition  is  the  i)eople.  and  in  all 
superstition   wise   men    follow   fools,   and   arguments 
are  fitted  to  practise   in  a  revc^rsed   order.°     It  was 
20 gravely  said  by  some  of  the  prelates  in  th(>  Council  (^f 
Trent, °  where  the  doctrine  of  the  schoolmen^  bore 
great  sway,  '"that  the  schoolmen  were  like  astrono- 
mers, which  did   feign  eccentrics  and  epicycl(>s,°  and 
such  engines  of  orl)s.°  to  save  the  phenomena,  though 
25  they  knew  thcM-e  were  no  such  things  ;"°  and,  in  like 
manner,  that  the  schoolnu-n  had  framed  a  number  of 
subtile  and  intricate  axi.Miis  and  theorems  to  save  the 
practice  of  (he  Church. 
The  causes°  of  su|)(>rstition  are:    pleasing  and  sen- 
;«Jsual  rites  and   ceremonies;    excess  of  outward   and 


A'.S.S'.n.S   OH   <'IH  SSKLS    (  nil.    wit    MoiiM.        ,'' 
plmrisnical    lioliticss;     oxcr-m'cnl    rcNci-ciicc   of   tnidi 


•  IIS.  which  camioi  Imt  N.nd  1  he  ( 'hurch  :    tl 


ic  >li-af;i- 


ii'.'iiis  of  prelates  for  theii-  owi,  aiiihitioii  and  hicre; 
ihe  fa\()Uiins;  loo  much  of  iiood  inteiilions.  which 
(ipeneth  the  <iate  to  coticeils  and  no\-ehies;  the  takiiiii' 
all  aim  at  dixiiie  matters  hy  Ihuikhi.  which  camiot  l.ut 


hreed    mixture    of    imagination 


and.    lastlv.    hai"- 


harou:'.   times.  esi)(>ciall\-  joined   with   cahunities  and 


disasters. 


Superstition   without    a    veil   is  a   deformed    thinii-;i( 
for  as  it'  add(>th  deformity  to  an  ajx'  to  he  so  like  a 
man.    so    the    simihtude    of   supei'stition    to    religion 


inai^c^s   11 


the 


moi'e   (l(>torm(Ml 


And 


as    w 


hoi 


e>onu» 


meat  corru|)telh  to  little  worms,  so  uood  forms  and 
orders  corrupt  into  a  number  of  p(^tiy  ohservances.      i." 


e   IS  a   superstition   in   avoidinu-  sujierslilion, 


w 


rom 


hen  men  think  to  do  best  if  they  <i()  furthest  f 
the   su])erstition    foi-m(>rly   recei\'ed.     Therefore   care 
would"  })('  hatl  that,  as  it  fareth  in  ill  j)ursin<is.  the 
,U(>od  he  not  taken  away  with  the  had;    which  com-LX* 
monly  is  tlone  when  the  people  is  the  roformor.° 


XVIIT.    OF    TR.WEL 


Travel,  in  th(>  yomificr  sort,  is  a  part  of  educa- 
tion: in  the  elder,  a  part  of  experience.  He  that 
trav(^lleth  into  a  country  before  lu^  hath  some  entrance 
into  the  lan^i'iaiic  <ioelh  to  school,  and  not  to  travel.: 


That 


younu-  men  travel  under  some  tut 


or  or  grave 


-J'- 


GO 


KSSAYS  <,n   <  (,l  \si:i.S  (  l\ll.    ami   muual 


servant.  I  allow''  wcil ;   so  that  Ik-  he  sue!,  a  on(>  that 
hath    the    hinunai-'c   and    luiiji    I»c(mi    iti    the   country 
before,  whereby   he  may  be  able  to  t(>ll   them  what 
thin^us  are  worthy  t<>  be  .seeti   in  the  connlry  where 
.ithey  ^o,  whal   ac(|uaintances  they  aiv  to  seek,  what 
exereises  or  discipline   the   pia'-e  yieldeth.      For  else 
yoim,!^  men  shall  ^o  hooded,  and  look  abroatl    little. 
It   is  a  stran,t!;e   tiling-   that    in  sea   xoya/iics.  where 
tiiere   is    nothinii    to    \)v  seen    but   sk\   ;ind   sea,  men 
loshould  make  (liaii''s";   but  in   hiiiil  travel,  wiierein  so 
mu(;h  is  to  be  observed,  for  the  m(»t   pait   I  liev  omit 
it;     as    if   chance    were    fitter    to    be    rcuistricd    tiiau 
observation.      Let  diaries  therefore  be  brou^^ht  in  use. 
The    thiny;s    to    be    seen    and    obserxcd    are:     tiie 
16 courts  of  pi-inces,  specially  when  the\'  <:i\e  audience 
to  ambassadors;    the  courts  of  justice,  while  thev  Mt 
and  hear  causes;  and  so  of  consistories'^  ecclesiastic* 
the  churches  and   monasteries,  with  the  monuments 
whi''ii  are  therein  extant;    the  wails  and  f<»rtifications 
i!(>of  cities  and  towns,  and  so  the  hav<'ns  and  harbours; 
auti(|uitiesand  ruins;  libraries,  colle<;-es,  disputations," 
and  lectures,  where  any  are;    shippuin  and    navies; 
hou.ses  and  gardens  of  state  and  (jleasurc  near  i^reat 
cities;     armouries,    arsenals,    ma.iiazines,     eN:chan<!,(>s. 
li.-j  burses,^     warehouses;      exercise^     of     li()rs(Mnaii>!!;n. 
fencing,  training  of  soldiers,  and  the  like;    comedies. 
such  wiureunto  tlie  better  .sort   of  peisons  do  i-esort  : 
treasuries  of  jewels  and  robes,  cabinets  and   rarities: 
and,   to   conclude,   whatsoever   is   memorable  in   the 
:i.)  places  where  they  go:    after  all  which  the  tutors  or 


■itj.^-a.  its'!',. 


gjLJ.'>%J 


ESSAYS  on  fi,i-\sf-:/.s  f  niL    ix/,  mi,um. 


fil 


-(•r\;i!it-;    ouu'ii'     to    iiuikc    (liliii;(>iit 


Hh 


.r\' 


A>    for 


111 


iii|)lis.  niasinu'.s.  tVasts.  wcildiiiirs.  fuiuM-nls.  capitnl 


'\<'cnt ion-,    atnl    siicli    sli 


<  )\V: 


iiu'ii    \\v(h\    not    to    i: 


IMl 


t  ii)  iiiinti  of  tluMu;  vet  arc  fluv  not  to  1 


)('    il('<il(M't('(l 


If  \oii   will   lia\('  a    soiniii;   man   to   put    his   tra\<'l 
!!ilo  a  hl'Jc  room,  an^l  in  short  tii     ■  to  <;ath('r  nmrh. 


lis  vol!  must  (h):    hr<t ,  as  \va 


s  sai< 


I.   I 


ic  must    have 


-omc   enlraiicr    into    the    hmiiuauo    hrforc     i<>   uocMh. 
i  iicn  he  must  have  such  a  siTvant  or  tutor  as  knowffh 


ihc 


country,   as   was   likewise   sai'h      l<ct    hi 


m   carrv  in 


with  him  also  s()m<>  card  '  or  l)ot>k  (lcscril)inp;  rho  coun- 
rv  wher    he  travellclh.  which  wih  he  a  «j:oo(1  kcv  to 


HUjuny 


Let    I 


inn   Keep  also  a   diarv 


Lot    I 


inn 


not  stay  lon<2:  ni  otu^  citv  or  town  :   mon^  or  l<^ss  as  tl 


le 


\       phicc  dcs(M'voth.  hut  not  lon<;.      Xav.  when  ho  stavoth  i; 


oiK^  city  or  town,  lot  him  chanti'o  liis  lodfrinir  fr 


rom 


1  IS  a 


one  011(1  and  jKU't  of  tho  town  to  anothor.  whici 
U'cat  adaniaut°  of  ao(|uaintanco.      Lot  him  s((ju<>stfT 


>lf  fi 


m<i 


tiimsoii  troni  tno  cotnpany  of  his  countr\  nion.  a 
dict^  in  such  places  whore  there  is  ji'ood  oompanvio 
of  the  nation  wh(>ro  he  trM\-ellct  h.  Let  him.  uj)on 
!iis  removes  from  one  plac(»  to  anoth(>r.  jtrocuro 
:<'c<)iiim(Midation  to  some  |)orsoii  of  (|ualit\  r(sidiii,ii 
in  tlie  {)lacc  whither  he  removeih.  that  he  niav  use 
his  favour  in  those  thin.us  he  <l"siroth  t 
'i'hus  lie  may  abridii-e  his  traxcl  wifli   mucji   Drofit.'^ 


o  sec  or  Ivnow.  -i:, 


As  for  the  aeqiiaintanee  whioii  is  to  be  .soufjht 
r-avel.   that    which    is   mot   of  all   profital 


m 


'|ii;nntance  with   the  soorotario 


i)f  aml)a.s?5adors;    for  so  in  travellin";  m  < 


i);e   IS   ao- 
and     rnplovod   men 


■{    ('(■ 


\v\    J) 


02 


ASSAYS   (Hi   CorsSKLS   f'lVTL   AND   MORAL 


li('  sluill  suck  th(>  <>\j)('rion('('°  of  iiimiiv.  Let  liini  also 
soo  and  visit  ouiincnt  jmtsoiis  in  all  kinds  which  aro 
of  o;roat  name  ahroad.  that  Ih>  may  he  ahlo  to  toll 
how  the  lifo''  .'iirivc'th  with  the  famo.  For  quarrels, 
"•thcv  arc  with  care  and  discretion  to  ho  av(»id(>(l. 
They  are  commonly  for  misiresses.  healths,  place,  and 
words.  Atid  let  a  man  beware  how  he  kee|)eth  com- 
pany with  choleric  and  (|uarr(>lsoni(>  pcfsons,  foj 
they  will  en<i:;,(.(.  him  itiio  their  own  (|uarr(>ls.  When 
lea  travellei  reliu-neih  home,  let  him  not  leave  the 
countries  where  he  hath  travelled  alloiict her  behind 


him.  but   maintain 


I  correspondence  l)y  letters  with 


those  of  his  ac<|uaintanc(>  which  are  of 
And  let  his  tr;ivel  ;ippear  rather  in  his  d 


inosi  woi'th. 
iscourse  than 
i.^ni  his  apparel  or  yesturo;  .Mnd  in  his  discourse  let 
him  i)e  rather  ad vised°  in  his  answers  th-m  ff)rwards 
to  tell  stories. °  And  let  it  appear  that  he  doth  not 
chan,u-e  his  country  manners  for  those  of  forei«»:n 
I)arts.  but  only  prick  in°  some  flowers  of  that  he  luUh 
•J()  learned  abroad,  hito  the  customs  of  his  own  coimtry. 


XIX.    OF   K^[^IRE 

Fr  is  a  miserable  state  of  mind  to  have  few  thin^^s 
to  desire,  and  many  thin<is  to  fear;  and  vet  that 
conunonly  is  the  case  of  kinus.  who.  bein^r  ^t  the 
hiiihest.  want  mutter  of  desire.°  which  makes  their 
2.-.  nnnds  more  lan.<>-uishiii.o-:  and  have  many  represen- 
tations  of   perils   and   shadows,   which   makes    their 


i';.svs'.n'.s'  nu  coixskls  civil  A.\n  mokal 


(VA 


iniiids  the  less  clc^ar.     Ami  this  is  (Oic  n^tsoii  also  of 
that   eft'ect   which  the  Scri))tur('^  spcakcth  of,  "that 

For  inuhitud**  of 


the  kiiiii's  heart    is  iiiscnital)l(' 


il( 


il    hick 


)t 


predominant    desire 


jealousies,    and    lacK    oi    some 
that  should   marshal  and   put   in  order  all   the   rest.n 
maketh    any    man's    heart    hard    to    find    or   sound. 
Hence   it   comes,   likewise,   that    princes   many   times 
make  themselves  desires,  and  s(>t   their  hearts  U|)()n 
toys°:  sometimes  ui)on  a  huildin.u-,  sometimes   upon 
erectinii'  of  an  order, °  sonu^times  upon  the  advaticin*!;  l<l 
of  a  person,  sometimes  ui)on  obtaininiLi"  excellency  in 
some  art  or  f(>at  of  thi>  hand.     -  as  Xero°  for  playinji; 
on  the  harj).  l)omilian°  for  certainty  of  the  hand  with 
the  arrow,  ('onnnodus°  for  playin.u  at    fence.  Cara- 
(•alla°     for    drivinu'    chariots,     and     the     like.     This  in 
seemeth    incredible    unto    tho c    that    know    not    the 
principle,  that  the  mind  of  man  is  more  cheered  and 
refreshed  by  prolitin^'  in  small  tliinjis.  than  by  stand- 
ing at  a  stay  in  threat.      \N'e  see  also  that  kinus  that 
have  been  fortunate  conipierors  in   their  first   years,  •_'() 
it  bein.ii;  not  |)ossible  for  them  to  uo  forward  infinitely, 
but    that    they   nuist    have  some   check   or  arrest    in 
their  fortunes,  turn  in  tlieir  latter  years  to  be  super- 
stitious   and    melancholy;     as    did    Alexander    the 
(lreat,°  Diocletian, °  and  in  our  nuMuory  Charles  \.°m 
and  others;    for  he  that   is  us(><l  to  ,si;o  fcuward,  and 
(indeth  a  stop,  falleth  out  of  his  own  favoin-,  and  is 
not  the  thinii  lu-  was.- 

To  speak  now  of  the  true  temper^  of  emj)ire,  it  is 
a  thing  rai'e  and  hard  to  keep;    for  both  temjxM"  and.'Ml 


It 


64 


KSSAVS   0/£   (OCASKLS  rjrJL   AXJj   MOh'AL 


ipor°  cDiKsist  of  contraries.     Bm  it 


is  one  th 


to  niin-le  rontrarios.  another  to  intereiinn-e  tl 
llio  answer  of  Aj)ollonius°  to   \esj 
excellent  instrnction.     Wspasian  as...,.  ..,., 
5  was  \ero*«  overthrow?"  He  answered    '' X 


ing 


touch  and  tune  the  1 


sometimes  he  used  lo  wind  the 
times  to    let    them    d 


lem. 

)asian°  is  full  of 

cspasian  askerl  him,  "What 

ero  could 

1  government 

some- 


larjj  well:    hut  ii 


own    too  low, 


pins  too  iliirh 


\nd   certain 


10  tl 


ange^   of    power 


1    IS,  that  nothmu-  il(^stroyeth  authoiitv  so  much  as 
the    unecpial    and    untimelv  interchani 
pressed  too  far,  and  relaxed  too  nmch! 
'"'lis  is  true,  that    the  wisdom  of  all   these  latter 

i'"s.    is  rather   fine  deliveries  ° 


Tl 


tunes,   in   princes'  atJa 


and  shifti 
15 are  near,   than  soli.l  and  grounded 


tl 


np   of  dan<r<'rs   and    mischi(>fs   when    the 

courses  to  keep 


doof.     H 


KMn  alooL     nut  tins  .s  hut,  to  try  masteries  with 
o    une      And    h>t    n,en    beware    how    thev    neglect 

and  sutler  niatter  of  tnu.hle  to  he  prepared,  for  no 
mancanh>rb,d  the  spark,   nor  tell  whence  it  mav 

^ocome.     li-diihculties  in  princes'  business  are  mant 

a^id  great;     but    the  gn-atest    diflieultv   is   often   in 

he...vnnnnd.     Fo.it    is   connnon  with    princes, 

scuth    lac.tus.°  to  will  contradiHories.       "Sunt   nle- 

rum,ue;   regtun   voluntates  vehen.entes,   et    inter     e 

^-ntrarue.        l-r  it  is  the  solecisn."  of  power  to  tl  i,  k 

to  connnand  the  <.nd.  and  yet  not  t.,  endure  the  mean  ° 

Kings    have   to  d.-ai   with    their   neighbours,  their 

^M  es,   then'  cinldren,   their   prelates   or  clergv    their 

no^;s,  the,  second  noble  or  g<M.tle.net..  thth'  „,er- 


M 


f'lnnts,  their  connnons.  and    tl 


icir  men  o 


f  ^\• 


ir 


and 


ESSAYS   OR   (  f)('XSFLS   riVIL   A XI)    MORAL 


65 


h'om  all  those  arise  clangors,  if  care  and  circumspec- 
tion be  not  used. 

First  for  their  neitrhhonrs,  there  can  no  general  rule 
he  .ijiven  (the  occasions  are  so  variable),  save  one, 
which  ever  holdeth:  wliich  is,  that  ))rinces  do  keep5 
due  sentinel  that  none  of  tlieir  ncMjjhbours  do  overthrow 
so.  by  increase  of  terrilorv,  by  embracing  of  trade, 
by  gpproaclies.°  or  the  like,  as  they  become  more  able 
to  annoy  them  than  thev  were.     And  this  is  generallv 


tl 


le   woi 


k   of   stanilina;    councils,    to    foresee    and    to  ifl 


hinder  it.  During  that  triumvirate  of  kings.  King 
Henry  \'1II.  of  l']ngla  '.  Francis  I..  King  of  Francj, 
and  Charles  V..  F  •  ;,  there  was  sucli  a  watch 
kept  that  none  of  th  ^e  coukl  win  a  palm  of  ground, 

l)ut    the   other   two    ,\(/(ild   straightways   balance   it,  15 
either  by  confederation,  or  if  need  were  by  a  war,  and 
wouhl  not  in  any  wise  take  u|)  peace  at   interest. ° 
And  the  like  was  done  by  that  league,  which,  Guic- 
ciar(line°    saith.    was    the    security    of    Italy,    made 
between     Ferdinandct,    King    of    Naples.     Forenzius20 
Med  ices, °  and  Ludovicus  Sforza.  potentates,  the  one 
of    I'lorejice.    the    other    of    Milan.      XeitluT    is    the 
opinion  of  some  of  th(>  schoolm(Mi°  to  Ik  received,  that 
a  war  cannot  justly  be  made  but  u|)on  a  precedent® 
injury  or  provocation:    for  there  is  no  question  but  a25 
just  fear  of  an  iimninent  dange?'.  though  there  be  no 
blow  given,  is  a  lawful  cause  of  a  war. 

For  their  wiv«\«^,  tiiere  are  cruel  examples  of  them. 
Fiviji"^  i.  infanied°  for  the  poisoning  of  lier  husband; 
Koxolana,  Solyman's  wife,°  was  thedotruction  of  that  3fl 


66      /;.svs.n.s  or  coiwskls  cir//.  .\xn  M'jral 


renowned  prince,  Sultan  .Mu.stapha."  and  otherwise 
troubled  liis  house  and  sueeession;  Ivlward  II.  of 
England  his  queen''  had  the  prineipal  hand  in  the 
deposino;   and    murder   Mf   h(>i    husband.     This    kind 


5 of  danger  is  then  to  he  fscired  el 


have    plots   for    the    raisin<;   of   their 
or  else  that  they  he  advoutresses.° 
For  their  children,  the  traiiedies  lil 


lieliv,  wIuMi  the  wive 


own    children: 


kewise  of  dangers 
from  them  have  been  many;    and  generalh'.  the  en- 
lOtcring  of  fathers  into  suspici(m  of  their  children  hath 
been    ever    unfortunate.     The    destruction    of    M... 
tapha,  that  we  named  before,  was  so  fatal  to  Soh 


US- 


man's   line,   as    tl 


le    succession    of    the   Turks,    fi 


om 
ue. 


^\■as 


Solyman  until  this  day,  i.s  suspected  to  be  unti 

15 and    of  strange    blood;     for   that   Selymus    II 

thought  to  be  supposititious.  The  destruction  of 
Crispus,°  a  young  j)rince  of  rare  towardness,  by 
Constantimis  the  (Jreat,^  his  father,  was  in  like 
manner  fatal  to  his  house;  for  both  Constantinus 
20 and  Coiistans,  his  sons,  died  violent  deaths;  and 
Constantius,  his  other  son,  did  little  better!  who 
died  ind(>ed  of  sickness,  but  after  that  Julianus°  had 
taken  arms  against  \nm.  The  destruction  of  Deme- 
trius,^ son  to  Philip  II.  of  Macedon,  turned  upon 
•■»the  father,  who  (HcmI  of  repentance.  And  many 
like  examples  thejv  are;    but  f<'w  or  none  where  the 


fathers   had  good    by   such  distrust,  (>.\ce})t  it  w 


wImtc  fjie  SO! 


ere 


en-  up  lit  open  arms  against  them 


as  was  Selvmus   I.^  against    Haja/;et,°  and  the  th 
3()sons-  of  Hcm-v  11.,  King  of  Kngiand. 


n^e 


J<:SSAYS   OR   COUXSKLS   CIVIL   AND   MORAL 


67 


For  their  prolates,  whou  tl'.\v  ;ir(>  ])rou(l  and  jircat, 
Ihoro  is  also  daiigor  from  tluMii,  as  it  was  in  the 
times  of  Aiisehniis°  and  Tlionias  IV('ket.°  Arch- 
l)ishops  of  (\anterhurv,  who  with  their  erosi(M's°  did 
ahnost  try  it°  with  the  k.in<;'s  sword;  and  yet  tlieyfi 
had  to  deal  with  stout  and  haughty  kinjis,  William 
Hufiis,  Henry  I.,  and  Henry  11.  The  dansjer  is  not 
Irom  that  state.°  l)ut  where  it  hath  a  dependence  of 
foreign  aiitli()rity°;  or  whc^re  the  Churchmen  come  in, 
and  are  elected,  not  l)y  the  collation  of  the  king  or  lo 
j)articular  patrons,  hut  by  the  people. 

For  tlieir  nobles,  to  keep  them  at  a  distance  it  is 
not  amiss;  but  to  depress°  them  may  make  a  king 
more  absolute,  but  less  safe,  anc'  h'ss  able  to  p(>rform 
anything  that  he  desires.  I  have  noted  it  in  my  i.' 
"History  of  King  Henry  VH.  of  Kngland,"  who 
depressed  his  nobility;  whereupon  it  came  to  i)ass 
that  his  times  were  full  of  diflicultu^s  and  troubles, 
for  the  nobility,  though  they  coiuimied  loyd  unto 
him,  yet  did  they  not  co-op(Tate  with  him  in  hisiio 
JMisiness.  So  that  in  effect  he  was  fain°  to  do  all 
things  himself. 

For  their  second  nobles,  there  is  not  much  dang(M' 
from  them,  being  a  IkxIv  dispersed.  They  may  some- 
times discourse  high,  but  that  doth  little  hurt  ; --'."i 
besules  they  are  a  counterpoise  to  the  higher  nobility, 
that  they°  grow  not  too  potent;  and  lastly,  being 
the  most  inmiediate  in  authority  with  the  conmion 
people,  they  do  bcNt   temper  popular  conmiotions. 

For  their  merchants,  they  are  cvna  porta°;   and  ifau 


I  ^-:; 


(j« 


IJSS.iVS  O/i   COIXSELS   (I  VII,   jy/,   MoraL 


they  flourish  not,  a  kinml 


l)ut  will  h, 
and 


oni  may  have  <r<)0{l  limbs. 


iv(>  empty  vcms,  and  nourish  little.     Taxes 
unp()sts°  upon  i  hem  do  seldrmi  c;ood  to  the  kind's 
rovenue.   lor  that    that    he  wins  in   the   hundred  he 
sloeseth    m    the    shire ^;     the    particular    rates    beini.- 
iriereas,>,i,   hut   the  total   hulk  (,f  trudin-  rather  de- 
creased. 

For    their   eonunons,    there   is    little   danger   from 
th(>m.  except  it  be  wh,>re  th(^v  have  ^reat  and  potent 
10  H^aiis;    or  where  you  meddle  with  tlie  point  of  re- 
ligion, or  iheir  customs,  or  means  of  life. 

For  their  m(Mi  of  war,  it  is  a  dan<>erous  state  where 
they  live  and  nwnain  in  a  bodv.  and  are  used  to  dona- 
tives; wher(>of  we  see  examples  in  the  janizaries  ° 
15 am  pr(>torian  bai.ds^  of  !{ome;  but  trainings  of  men 
and  arnunii-  tluMu  in  several  places  and  under  several 
command,>rs.  and  without  donatives,  are  thin-s  of 
detence  and  no  dauiicr. 

I'riiH-es  ar(>  Iik(.   to  heav(Milv  bodies,  which  cause 

20jro.)d  „revil  times,  and  which  have  much  V(Mieration 

f>nt    no   rest.     All   pren.pts  concerning  kin-s  are   in 

otect    compr(>hended    in    those    two    r.Muembrances: 

Memento  ,|uod  es  homo,"^  and  "  .M(.mento  quod  es 

l>c'us       or  ••  M,-e  Dei'- -  the  one  bridleth  their  power, 

2oand  the  other  tlunr  will. 


XX.   (W  rouxsEL 

Tfu:  greatest  (rust^  beiwef.,,  man  and  man  Is  the 
trust  ol   u-,vnio-  counsel.     1-or   in  other  confidences, 


ESSAYiS   OR   C'OCySELS   CIVIL    AM)    MO  HAL 


(;y 


men  coimnit  the  parts  «»t'  life;  their  laiuls,  their 
aoods,  their  eliildreii.  their  i-redit,  some  particular 
attair;  but  to  sueii  as  they  make  their  eoimsellors, 
they  commit  the  whole:  by  how  much  the  more 
they  are  obli<^ecl  to  all  faith  anti  integrity.  The  wisest  5 
princes  need  not  think  it  any  diminution  to  their 
jrreatness,  or  dero«i;ation  to  their  suliiciency,  to  rely 
upon  counsel,  (lod  himself  is  not  witlunit,  but  hath 
made  it  one  of  the  jjreat  names  of  his  blessed  Son, 
"  the  Counsellor.  "  Solomon"  hath  jmmounced  that  lo 
"in  counsel  is  stability."  Thin«i;s  will  have  their 
hrst  or  second  agitation^;  if  they  be  not  tossed  upon 
the  arguments  of  counsel,  they  will  be  tossetl  upon 
the  waves  of  fortune,  and  be  full  (jf  inct)nstancy,  doing 
and  undoing,  like  the  reeling  of  a  drunken  man.  I'l 
Solomon's  st)n°  found  the  force  of  counsel,  as  his 
father  saw  the  necessity  of  it.  For  the  beloved 
kingdom  of  God  was  first  rent  and  broken  by  ill 
counsel;  upon  which  counsel  there  are  set  for  imr 
instruction  the  two  marks  wherebv  bad  counsel  isiiu 
for  ever  best  discerned:  that  it  was  young*^  c»)\msel 
for  the  persons;  and  violent  counsel  for  the  matter.^ 
The  ancient  times  do  set  forth  in  ligure  both  the 
incorporation  and  inseparable  conjunction  of  counsel 
with  knigs,  and  the  wise  and  politic  use  of  counsel lm 
by  kings;  the  one,  in  that  they  say  .Ju[)iter°  did 
marry  Metis, °  which  signifieth  counsel,  whereby  they 
intend  that  sovereignty  is  married  to  counsel;  the 
other  in  that  which  foUoweth.  which  was  thus:  they 
say,  after  Jupiter  was  married  to  Metis,  she  conceived  y<j 


70 


ESSAYS   OK   rorXSELS   CIVIL   A^ 
liin  and  was  with  child,  but  Jupit 

♦  ,.     ..+  ..,.     *;il      .1...     1 ^   A     e       .1         1 


jf  jiun.iij 


cr  sunercd  iior 
not  to  .stay  till  she  brou^dit  forth,  but  ate  her  ujj; 
whereby    he    became    nimself    with    eliild,    and    was 
delivered  of  Pallas°  armed,  out  of  his  head.     Which 
5  monstrous  fable  containeth  a  secret  of  emph-e,  how 
kings  are  to  make  use  of  their  council  of  state.     That, 
first,  they  ought  to  refer  matters  unto  them,  which  is 
the  first  begetting  or  impregnation;    but  wlien  they 
are  elaborate,  moulded  and  shaped  in  the  womb  of 
10  their  council,  and  grow  rii)e  and  ready  to  be  brought 
forth,  that  then  they  suffer  not  tlu>ir  council  to  go 
through  with   the  resolution  and  direction,  as  if'lr 
depended  on  them;    but  take  the  matter  back  intc, 
their  own  hands,  and  make  it  a})pear  to  the  workl 

ir.  that  the  decrees  and  final  directions  (which,  because 
the>'  come  forth  with  ()rudence  and  power,  are 
r(>.seml)Ied°  to  Pallas  armed),  proceeded  from  them- 
selves, and  not  only  from  their  authority,  but,  the 
more   to   add   reputation    to   themselves,  "from   their 

•-'ohead  and  device. 

Lot  us  now  speak  of  the  inconveniences  of  counsel, 
and  of  the  remedies.  Th(>  inconveniences  that  have 
l)een  noted  in  calling  and  using  counsel  are  three: 
first,  the  revealing  of  affairs,  wherelw  thev  I)ecome 

2:»less  secret;  seccjndly,  the  weakening  of  the  authority 
of  ))rinces,  as  if  thoy  were  less  of  themselves;  thirdly-, 
the  danger  of  b(>ing  unfaithfully  counselled,  and 
mor-  for  the  good  of  them  that  counsel  than  of  him 
that    IS   counselled.     For   which    inconveniences   the 

wdoctrme  of  Italy,  and  practice  of  France,  in  some 


ESSAYS   OR   rorxSELS   flVIL    AND   MOIiAL 


kinjis'  timos,  hath    intnMhiccd    (•al)iiirt    coimciL^," 
a  remedy  worse  than  the  (liseas(\° 


As  t 


o  secrecy.  [H-iiices  are  not   hound  to  comnin- 


n 


icate    all    matters    witii    all 


c<)niisellors.    hut    niav 


extract   and    select. °     Neither    is    it 


uecessa''v    that  n 


he  that  consulteth  what  he  sliould  do.  shouhl  declare 
what  he  will  do.  Hut  let  princes  Ix'ware  that  the 
unsecretin^  of  their  at^'airs  cotm^s  not  from  them- 
selv{\s.     And  as  for  cabinet 


councils,  it  mav 


he  tl 


leu' 


motto:   "  Plenus°  rimarum  sum;"  one  futih'"  person,  n; 
that  maketh  it  his  ftlory  to  tell,  will  do  more  hiu't 
than  many  that   know  it  their  duty  to  conceal.      It 
is  true,  there  be  some  affairs  which  require  extreme 
secrecy,   which    will    hardly   ro   beyoTid   onv  or   two 
persons  besides  the  kin<i:    neither  are  thos(>  counsi^ls  i:. 
improsperous;     for.    besides   tlu»   secnn-y.    they   com- 
juonly  go  on   constantly   in  one  spirit   of  direction, 
without  distraction.     But  then  it  nmst  be  a  prudent 
king,  such   as   is  able   to  grind   with   a   hand-mill°; 
and  those  inward  counsellors  had  need  also  Ik'  wise-Jd 
men,  and  especially   true  and   trusty   to   the   king's 
ends;    as  it  was  with  King  Henry  \'II.  of  hlngland, 
who  in  his  greatest  business  imparted  himself  to  none, 
except  it  were  to  Mo.-ton°  and  Fox.° 

For  weakening  of  authority,  the  fable  showeth '-'.i 
the  remedy.  Nay,  the  majesty  of  kings  is  rather 
exalted  than  diminished,  when  they  ar(>  in  the  chair 
of  counsel;  neither  wa^  there  ever  prince  bereaved 
of  his  dependencies"  by  his  counsel,  except  where 
there  hath  been  cither  an  over-greatness  in  one  coun-3« 


i^: 


m 


72 


ESSAYS   (Hi  (orySK/.S  CIVIL    AXJ)   MORAL 


sollor,    or    an    oAer-striot     ('()nil)iiiatioii 


111    (livors: 


wiiich  arc  tiiiii.us  sooti  found  and  iiolpon.° 

For  tlu'  last  iiicoiivcniciicc.  lliat  men  will  counsel 
with  an  vyv  to  t!!('ins<'Ivos.  certainly  "  \oa  inveniet° 
5fid(Mn  super  f(>rranr'  is  meant  of  tiie  nature  of  times, 
and  not  of  all  particular  p(M-sons.  There  he  that  are 
in  nature  faithful  and  sincere,  and  plain  and  direct, 
not  crafty  and  itnolved;  let  princes  above  all  draw- 
to    themselves    such    natures.     B{\sides,    counsellors 

10 are  not  conunonly  so  united  l)ut  that  one  counsellor 
keepeth  sentinel  over  another;  so  that  if  any  do 
counsel  out  of  faction  or  private  ends,  it  commonly 
comes  to  the  kim-'s  ear.  Hut  the  best  remedy  is, 
if  [H-inces   know   tluMr  counsellors,   as  well  as   their 

16 counsellors  know  them: 

'•  I'riucipis'  est  virtus  maxima  no.s.sc  .suos." 

And  on  the  other  side,  counsellors  should  not  be  too 
speculative^  into  their  soverei<«;n's  person.  The  true 
composition  of  a  counsellor  is  rather  to  be  skilful  in 

20  their°  master's  business  than  in  his  nature";  for  then 
he  is  lik(>  to  advise  him,  and  not  to  'ivinl  his  humour. 
It  IS  of  sin,<iular  use  to  jmiices  if  they  take  the  opinions 
ot  their  couns  >1  both  separately  and  to.i^ether;  for 
privat(»  opinioti  is  moiv  free,  but  oj)inion  before  others 

25 IS  more  reverend.  In  private,  men  are  more  bold 
in  their  own  tuimours,  and  in  consort,  men  are  more 
obnoxious'^  to  others'  humours;  therefore  it  is  good 
to  take  both :  and  of  the  inferior  sort,  rather  in  pri- 
vate, to  preserve  freedom;   of  the  greater,  rather  ir, 


ESSAYS  Oh'  COrXSKLS  fill/,    aX/>    Mnh'lL 


7*> 


consort,  to  preserve  resjx-ct.  It  is  in  vain  for  princes 
lo  take  counsel  conci'rnin«i  inaUers.  it  they  take  no 
counsel  likewise  concernin.i>-  persons;  tor  all  matters 
arc  as  dead  iina<;es.  and  the  lite  of  the  execution  of 
affairs  restetli  in  the  ^^ood  choice  of  persons.^  Xeither  r. 
is  it  enou«;h  to  consult  concernin.u  persons  sreundum 
iini(ra°  as  in  a:,  idea  or  niatheinatical  description, 
what  the  kijid  and  character  of  the  [jerson  should  br; 
for  the  <i;reatest  errors  are  coniiiiitted.  ami  the  most' 
.iudo;nient  is  shown,  in  the  choice  of  individuals.  It  im 
was  truly  said,  '  Uptimi^  consiliarii  mortui;"'  books 
will  speak  plain  when  couns(>llors  blanch. ^^  Tlierefore 
it  is  good  to  be  eonver.sant  in  them,  speciallv  the  books 
of  such  as  themselves  have  been  actors  upon  the  stage. 

The  councils  at    this  day,  in  mosi    phtc.  -  are  but  15 
familiar  meetings,   when^  matters  are  rather  talked 
on  than  debated;   and  they  run  too  swift  to  the  order 
or  act  of  council.     It   were   better   tliat,    in    causes 
<»f  weight,  the  matter  were  propounded  one  day  and 
iiot  spoken  to  till  the  next  day;  "in  nocte  consilium."°2«) 
So  was  it  done  in  the  commission  of  miion  between 
iMigland  and  Scotland,  which  was  a  gi-ave  and  orderly 
assembly."     1   connnend  set  days   for   i)etiti()ns,   for 
I'oth   it  gives   the  suitors   more   cerlaintv   for   their 
attendance,  and  it  frees  the  meetings  for  matters  ofv, 
estate,  that  they  may  hoc  micre.^     In  choice  of  com- 
luiltees,  for  ripening  business  for  the  council,  it  is 
better  to  choose  indifferent"  persons,  than  to  make 
an  mdifferency  by  putting  in  those  that  are  strong  on 
both  sides.     1  commend  also  standing"  commissions,  ao 


74 


Kss.iYs  (ti:  (nrxsK/.s  ( ivii.  as 


./o. 


lis  lor  trade,  for  trcn^iirc.  for  war,  for  ^uiis.  foi  >  .me 
jiroviiiccs'-^;  for  where  there  be  (li\ers  i)artieular 
councils,  and  l>ut  one  council  of  estaie  (a.'<  it  i.-;  n 
Spain),  they  ai'c.  in  effect,  no  more  than  .•^tandin^ 
.^.  coimnissions.  sa\'e  that  they  hav<'  <ireater  authority. 
Let  such  as  are  to  inform  councils  out  oi  their  pailicu- 
lar  professions  (as  lawvers,  seamen.  mintmen,°  aim 
the  like).  I>e  first  heard  lu'fore  committees,  and  then. 
as    occasion    s(>r\'es,    Ix^fore    the    council.     And    let 

10  them   not    conu^   in   multitudes  or   in  a   trihunitious 
manner;  for  tliat  is  to  clamour  councils,  not  to  infort  , 
them.     A    l()n<i-    table   and     .   sipiare   table,   or  seats 
about  the  walls,  seem  tliin/^s  of  form,  but  are  thin^ts 
of  substance:    for  at  a  Ion*!  table  a  few  at  the  upp<'r 

I.') end,  in  effect,  swa^'  all  the  business;  but  in  the  oilier 
form  there  is  more  use  of  the  coimseii'  ;s'  opinions 
that  sit  lower.  A  kin*;;,  when  he  presid(  s  in  council, 
let  him  beware  how  he  opens  liis  own  inclination  too 
much  in  that  which  he  propoundetli :    for  else  coun- 

'josellors  will  but  take  the  wind  of  him.  and  instead  of 
giving  free  counsel,  sing  him  a  sonjj;  of  placebo.^ 


XXI.     OF   DKLAVS 

FoRTUXK  is  like  the  market,  where  many  times,  if 

you  can  stay  a  little,  the  j)rice  will  lail.     And  again. 

it   is  sometimes   like  Sibylla's'-^  offer,   which  at    first 

2"»offereth  the  commodity  at  full,  then  coi;sumevh  part 

and  part,  and  still°  holdeth  up  the  ])rice.     For  "o-  ca- 


■B 


J-SSAYS   (tR   ror.      KLS   <  !V1       AXh     \f(,> 


sioti  Tis  it   is  in   the  common      tr     ^   mi'i  .(.i 
noddle,  after  she  Jiatli  pi'-sci  it   i        r  l  in 


aiK 


liold  takoii 


or 


t'li; 


the  bottle  first  to  \>o  n    .  ivc 


1  •' 


tl 


\V    1  It 


l<ll< 

'llv 


w 


iiicli  is  hai  I  to     l:i- 


'Ihrn 


-n? 


lo  jjrcater 
iiid  onsets 


s  isdoiii  than  wril  to  l    lic  tiu    ix'jiinni    j 

if  tliinss.     Danuors  an    n<.      Atn^  liu'      if  rliev  once 


-eeni  litiiit,  and  ntore  <la!;L"er-     :i\<'  (' 
■'ireed  tlieni.     N.i\',  it    v(   :•  lu'tir 
Ufis  half-wav,  tl    'imli  ilu'\   coini 


ed  men  than 

I't    '>nie  dan- 

iiiii       ar,  than  m 


to  keep  to*    l*>n^    •  n-;    rh  n     >n  th-i     ippro;    lies:    for 
if  a  man  w     eh  to<    itHiu  it  is    xlds  I   •  will  fall  aslee)). 


On  the  oth    •  sid*       »  !•'     -ec*     ed  with  too  lonii  s 


had- 


ows  (as  son.e  ha  •     'een     hen  the  moon  was  low  and 


shone  on     h"i'"  eii'  iin. 


nek)      uid    so  to  shoot  off 


hefore  the    inu  :    or  !  -  :ea<*h 


•e      t()  come  on, 


l)V 


over-early  1     ''kliii*;  to  .a.  Is  theii        anotluM- extreme. 
The  ripeness    r  tmrineness  of  the  occa 


sion.  as  we  sau 


I, 

must  ever  Ik   well  v     iihed;    and  generally  it  is  j^ood 
t«     eoinmit      he    i         inin<is   of   all    <i;reat    actions    to 20 
ArLi'is°  \  it.      is  h     aired  eves,  and  the  ends  to  Bria- 


W)    il 


idred  hanih 


first   to  watch  and 


thet     to 


or   the    helmet    of    IMiito,°   which 


m; 


man  "o  invisible,  is  secrecv  in 


th 


i    ant 


.](i 


on 


set 


rity    in    the   execution.     For   when-'" 
•ome  to  the  execution,  there  is  no 
rupai.ible  to  celerity;    like  th"  motion  of  a 
the  air,  which  flieth  so  .swift  as  it  otitruns 


76 


ii'A'^Ml^'   UH   roUXSKLS   (  IVIL   AX/t  ^ 


MORAL 


XXir.    OF   CrXNLVG 


Wk  tak 


o  rnniiiiiL'-  for  a  sinister  or 
^'orfainly  tlifrc  is  urcat  (lift 


And 

nin:.-:  niaii  and  a  wise  i 

h\x{ 


frookcd  wisdom, 
oronco  hctvvoon  a  cun- 
nan.  not  only  in  point  of  honostv 


ncardi 
tliat 
oth( 


"  point  of  ability.     Thcro  lio  that 
■  yet  cannot  play  well;    so  tin 


and 


aro 


ood 


an  park  tho 
ro  are  some 


■rwise  weak  iiici 


iM   r-anvassos  and   factions,   that 


aro 


stand  persons  and  another  tl 


uji,  It  IS  one  thine:  to  under- 


ten 


f 


oi    many  are  perfect   i 


Hn^  to  understand  mat- 


n  men's  humours  that 


10  are  not  -reatly  capable  ,)f  th(>  real  part  of  1 
\\  Inch  IS  the  constitution  of  one  that  hati 


)usiness: 


1  studied  me 


moro  ll,,„  |,„„k,.     ■■^'^■I,  ,„..„  are  fiftor  for  |,n,ot 


n 


flian  for  counsel,  and  tl 
.'dley;   turn  them  to  new 


l"'aim;    so  as  (lie  old  rul(>  to  ki 


ley  are  ^ood  but  in  tl 
"'<'"-HHi  they  have  lost  their 


tice 


10 1  r  own 


man, 

doth  scarce  hold  tor  tl 


low  a  fool  frofii  a  wise 


•MiU(>°  ambos  nndos  ad  i-notus.  et  viMH 


lem. 


And  I 


)i.- 


20 


"ut^^  men  a.e  like  haberdashers  of 
o  set   forth  th(>ir  shop. 
1'^  a  point   of  cunnin.i?  to  wait 


lecause  these  cuii 


not  aiiii.ss  t 

It 
whom 


^mall 


wares,  it   is 


vou 


upon  him  with 
speak  with  your  eye,  as  the  Jesuits^  j.ive 
nnrc..ept;    tor  there  be  many  wise  men  thatluive 
'  'TfoT    ""'^    ^'-^^-^Parotit    countenances      Vet 

-'.>cne  sometimes,  as  th.e  Je.uits  also  do  use 

Another  is.   that   wIhm,  you   have  anvthino-  to  ob- 
^-"  -^   ]>'•--..    despatch,  you   en.ertahi  and   amu., 


ESSAYS   Oh'   ((flxsKLS   rH/L     IA7/    .V//AM/, 


1     SOllU'     OtluT 


flie  parly  with  whom  yoii  ileal  witl 
(li-sc'oLirse,  tliat  lie  be  not  too  irmch  awake  to  iiial., 
ohjections.  I  knew  a  ('otiiiciijor  and  secretary^  that 
iit-ver  eanie  to  Queen  Klizaheth  of  l':;.'rland  with  hillH 
to  sign,  but  lie  would  alwavs  (iisi  put  1 


discourse  of  estate,   that  si 
I  he  bill? 


put  her  into  some 
le   mougiit    the  less  miFid 


The  lik 


e  surprise  may  be  made  bv  moviriii  ihii 


liTS 


\\ 


hen  the  party  is  in  haste,  and  cannot  stav  t 


o  con- 


sider atlvisedly  of  that  is  moved. 

If  a  man  would  cross^  a  business  that  h(>  doubt; 
some  other  wouhl  handsomely  and  elfectuall 
let  him  pretend  to  wish  it  well,  and 


1(1 


V  move. 


move  it   himself 


ill  such  sort  as  may  foil  it. 

The   breaking  off   in   the   midst    of   that 
about   to  say,   as   if   he   took    himself   up.    breeds   a 
•leater  aj)petite  in   him  with   whom   v 


one   was  15 


know 


on  confer,  t 


o 


more 


And  because  it  works  better  wl 


clh  to  be  gotten  from  vou  I 


len  anvthinii  seem- 


offer  it  of  yourself,  you  may  lay  a  bait  f 

by  showing  another  visage  and  count 

are  wont,  to  the  end  to  giv(; 

ask  what  the  matter  is  of  the  d 

liid,  *' Ami  I  had  not  before  thai  lime  I 

the  kiiiii.*' 


)y  (juestion  than  if  you  iii 

or  a  (luestion 

enance  than  you 

occasion  for  the  party  to 

iang«':    as  Xeliemiah" 

H'cii  sad  beft)re'Jo 


In  things  that  are  lender  and  unpleasing  it  is  good 


(o  break  the   ice   I 


weight,   and    to   reser\<'   tl 


>y  some  whose  words  are  of  le 


'SS 


ut  more   weightv    voice   t 


come  in  as  by  chaiur.  so  that   he  may  be  asked  tl 


o 


le .'«! 


ASSAYS   OH   (  (jCXSKLS  CIVIL   AND   MORAL 


question  upon  tlic  othor's  speech;  as  Narcissus"  did, 
in  relating  to  Claudius  tlie  marriage  of  Messalina  and 
Silius. 


In  things  that  a  man  would  not  be  seen  in  h 
If,  it 


un- 
nselt,  It  is  a  point  of  cunning  to  borrow  the  name  of 
the  world;  as  to  say,  "The  world  says,"  or,  "There 
is  a  speech  abroad." 

I  knew  one  tiiat.  when  he  wrote  a  letter,  he  would 
put  that  which  was  most  material  in  the  postscript. 
10 as  if  it  had  ])von  a  bye-matter. 

1  knew  another  that,  when  he  came  to  have  speech, 

he  would  pass  over  th..t  that  he  intended  most,  and 

go  forth  and  come  back  again,  and  speak  of  it  as  of  a 

thing  that  he  had  almost  forgot. 

15     Some  procure  themselves  to  be  surprised  at  such 

times  as  it  is  like  the  party  that  they  work  upon  will 

suddenly  come  ui)()n  them;    and  to  be  found  with  a 

letter  in  their  hand,  (.r  doing  sonunvhat  which  thev 

are  not  accustomed,  to  the  end  they  may  be  apposed^ 

'J) of  those  things  which  of  themselves  they  are  desirous 

to  utter. 

It  is  a  point  of  cunning  to  let  fall  those  words  in  a 
man's  own  jiame,  which  he  woukl  have  another  man 
learn  and  use,  and  thereupon  take  advantage.  1 
L'oknew  two°  tha.t  were  competitors  for  the  secretary's 
place  in  (^ncen  I'^lizalu-th's  time,  and  yet  kept  good 
quarter^  between  themselves,  and  woukl  confer  one 


witl 


1    another   u))on   the   business;    and    the   one   of 


them  said  that  to  be  a  secretary  in  the  declination  of 
mil  monarchy  was  a  ticklish  thing,  and  that  he  did  not 


IJSSAYS   OB  (JOrXSKLS   CIVIL   A.\I>   MO  HAL        71) 

affect  it;  the  other  sirai<;ht  f'au«>jlit  up  thoso  words 
and  discoursed  with  divers  of  his  friends  that  h<"  hrd 
no  reason  to  desire  to  he  secretary  in  the  dcchtiation 
of  a  monardiy.  The  first  man  took  hold  of  it.  and 
found  means  it  was  told  the  (^loen,  who,  hearin^^  of  n 
a  dechnation  of  a  monarchy,  took  it  so  ill  as  she 
would  never  after  hoar  of  tiic  other's  suit. 

There  is  a  cumiin^^  which  we  in  I<:nt?land  call  "Th(^ 
turning  of  the  cat°  in  the  ])an;"  which  is,'  when 
that  whi  i  a  man  saith  to  another,  he  lavs  it  as  if  in 
another  had  said  it  to  liim.  And  to  say  truth  it  is  not 
easy,  when  such  a  matter  passed  between  two,  to 
make  it  appear  from  which  of  them  it  first  moved 
and  began. 

It  IS  a  way  that  some  men  have  (o  glance  and  dart  ir, 
at   others,    by   justifying    themselves    bv    negativ(»s- 
as  to  .say,   "This  I  do  not/'      -  i  -gellinus^  did  toward.s 
Burrhus°:  'SSe  non°  diversa    -n  s,  sed  i.icolumitatem 
imperatoris  simi)liciter  s})ectaiv\" 

Some  have  in  readiness  .so  many  tales  and  stories  20 
as  there  is  nothing  they  would  insinuate  but  they  can 
wrap  it  into  a  tale;  whieh  serveth  both  to  keej)  them- 
selves more  in  guard,°  and  to  make  others  carry  it 
with  more  pleasure. 

It  is  a  good  point  in  cunning  for  a  man  to  .shape -'5 
the  answer  he  would    have    in   his   own   words  and 
propositions,  for  it  makes  the  otlier  partv  .stick  the 
less. 

It  is  strange  liow  long  souk^  men  will  lie  in  wait  to 
spuuk  somewhat   they  desire   to  say;  and   how  farao 


80        FSSAYS   (Jli  COrxSKLS    (I ML   AND   MORAL 

about  rhcy  will  fotch.^  and  how  iiijuiy  other  matter!* 
they  will  beat  over,  to  eome  near  it.  It  is  a  thing  of 
^reat  patience,  but  yet  of  much  use. 

A   sudden,    bold,    and    unexpected    question    doth 
5 many    times   surprise   a   niMii,    and    lay    him   open.° 
Like   to   him    that,  havino;   ehan<>;ed    his    name,  and 
walkin.u-  in    i^aul's.^  another  suddenly  came   behind 
him  and  called  him  hy  iiis  true  name,  whereat  straight- 
wnys  he  looked  back. 
10      iiut  lluse  smnll  wares^  and  petty  jioints  of  cun- 
ning are  infinite,  and  if  were  a  good  deed  to  make  a 
list   of  them;    for  that  nothing  doth  more  hurt  in  a 
state  than  that  cunning  men  pnss  for  wise. 

Hut  certainly  some  there  are  that  know  the  resorts° 

15  and  falls  of  business,  that  cannot  sink  into  the  main° 

of  it;  like  a  house  that  hath  convenient  stairs  and 

entries,  but  never  a  fair  room.     Therefore  you  shall 

see  them  find  oi:     pretty  looses°  in  the  conclusion, 

but  are  no  wavs  al)le  to  examine  or  debate  matters. 

20  And    \et    commonly   they   take   advantage  of    their 

inability,    and  would  be  thought   wits    of   direction. 

Some  build  rather  uj)on  the  abusing  of  others,  and, 

as  wf>  now  say,  |)utting  tricks  upon  them,  than  upon 

soundness  of  their  own  proceedings.     ]\\\{  Solomon° 

25saith,    "Prud(>ns"  a.lvertit  ad  gressiia  sues:    stultus 

divcrtit  ad  doles." 


m:^j 


ii:V6'J>6'   OH   (jmytiKLS   civil  JXO   M(jliAL        81 


XXIII.    OF  WISDOM  I  OR  A  MAX'S  SI- 


LF 


A.v  aiit  is  a  wit 


.<lije\vd°  thing  in  an  Drcluird 


ISO  Croat uiv   tor  itself,   but   it    is  a 


tainiy  men  that    are -iTcat  lovers  ..f  il 


or  y;ar(h>ii.     Ami 


eer- 


pul)li 


Divid 


leniselves  \\a.st( 


e    Willi    reason    between    sclf-lovi 


tli(> 

•  ind  soeiety.  and  }„■  so  true  to  thyself  as  thou  be'm.t  „ 
lalse  to  otiiers.  especially  to  thy  kin-  an.i  country. 
It  IS  a  poc*r  centr.'  of  a  man's  actions,  hiniMlf.  It  is 
ri-ht  earth."  For  that  only  stands  fast  upon  his  own 
centre;  whereas  all  things  tliat  have  alfinitv  with 
(lie  heavens  move  upon  the  centre  (.f  another,"  which  10 
tliey  benefit. 

The  referring  of  all  to  a  man's  self  is  more  toler- 
able in  a  sovereign  prijice,  b(>cause  themselves  are 
not  only  themselves,  but  their  good  and  evil  is  at 
tlic  peril  of  the  public  fortune.  Hut  it  is  a  d(>sperate  ii 
evil  m  a  servant  to  a  prince,  or  a  citi/.en  in  a  republic. 
I  or  whatsoever  aff.-irs  ])ass  such  a  man's  hands,  he 
<rooketh°  them  to  his  (»wn  (>nds,  which  must  needs 
be  often  eccentric"  to  the  eiuis  of  his  master  or  state. 
Therefore  let  princes  or  statics  cIk.osc  such  servants l**) 
•ts  liave  not  this  mark,  except  they  mean  their  ser- 
\ice  should  })e  made  but  tli(>  accessarv. 


That  which  maketh  the  effect 

that   all    proportion    is    li)st.     It  ..,.„ 

enough  for  the  servant's  good  to  be  preferred' befor 


more   pernicious  is 
Were    disprojjoriiun 


the  master's;    but  yet  it   i 


a  little  good  of  the  servant  shall 


I  greater  (>\treme,  whe 


•e  LTi 
n 


carry  things  against. 


82 


ESSAYS   nji   caCXSKLS   CIVIL   AM^   MORAL 


a  ^Tcat  ^()0(l  of  the  master's.  Aiicl  yvi  that  is  the 
case  (if  l)a(l  ofhcors.  treasurers.  amlKissadors.  generals, 
ami  otluM-  false  ;iii(l  ('orruj)!  s(>rvaiits;  which  set  a 
l)ias°  upon  th(Mr  howl,  of  their  own  jH'tty  ends  and 
'.envies,  to  the  oxcithrow  of  their  niastej-'s  great  and 
important  affairs.  And  for  the  most  part,  the  good 
sueh  servants  receive  is  aftei-  the  model  of  their  own 
fortune,  hut  the  hurt  they  sell  for  that  good  is  after 
the  mod(^l  of  tluMr  m;ister's  fortune.     And  certainly 

II)  it  is  the  nature  of  extreme  self-lovers,  as  they  will  set 
an  house  on  fire,  and  it  W(M"e  hut  to  roast  their  eggs°; 
and  yet  the-e  men  many  times  hold  credit  with  their 
masters,  because  their  study  is  hut  to  j)lease  them, 
and   profit    themselv(\<:    and   for  either  respect  thev 

1". will  abandon  the  good  of  their  affairs. 

Wisdom  fora  man's  self  is.  in  many  branches  tliereof. 
a  dej)rave(l  thing.  It  is  the  wisdom  of  rats,  that  will 
be  sure  to  leave  a  house  somewhat  before  it  fall.  It 
is  the  wisdom  of  the  fox.  that  thrusts  out  the  badger 

2(»wh(»  digged  and  made  room  for  him.  It  is  the  wis- 
dom of  crocodiles,  that  shed  tears  when  they  would 
devour.  Hut  that  which  is  specially  to  be  noted  is, 
that  those  which,  as  ('icero°  says  of  l'omi)ey,°  are 
"sui   amanl(>s'^  sine  rivali."   are   juanx    times  unfor- 

L'a  tuiiate.  And  whereas  they  have  all  their  time 
sacrificed  to  themselves,  they  become  in  the  end  them- 
selves sacrifiei's  to  the  inconstancy  of  fortune,  wliose 
wings  they  thought  by  their  self-wisdom  to  have 
pinione<l. 


ESSAYS   OR   cor  \S  ELS   CIVIL    AXJi    MORA  I. 


S3 


XXIV.     OF    IXNOVATIOVS 


As  the  births°  of  liv 


in^'  crcafu'vs  at  first   are  ill- 


4iapen,  so  are  all  innovations,  which  arc  the  i)irths 


of  time.     Yet.   notwithstandini;. 


as   those   that    first 


brinjj:  honour  into  their  family  are  eomnionlv  more 
worthy  than  most  that  siureed.  so  the  lirst  prece-r. 
(lent,  if  it  he  jiood,  is  sel(h)m  attained  by  imitaticm. 
lor  ill,  to  man's  nature  as  it  stands  pervi'rted.'-'  hath 
a  natural  motion  strongest  in  eontinuance;  but 
iiood,  as  a  foreed  motion,  strongest  at  first.  Surely 
every  medicine  is  an  innovati(m,  and  he  that  will  lo 
not  apply  new  remedies  nnist  (wpcrt  new  evils.  For 
time  is  the  greatest  innovator:  and  if  time  of  eourse° 
alter  things  to  the  worse,  and  wisdom  and  counsel 
shall  not  alter  them  to  the  bell(M.  wha.  siiall  be  the 

'■"^^•.  ir. 

It  is  true  that  what   is  settled  by  custom,  though 
it    be   not  good,   yet    at    least    it    is   fit. °     And    those 
things  which  have  long  gone  together  an-,  as  it  were, 
confederate  within   themselves:    when^as  new   things    * 
[)iece  not  so  well,  but  though  they  help  by  their  utri--jo 
ity,  yet  they  trouble  by  their  inconformity.     Hesid(>.s. 
they  are  like  strang(>rs,   mor(>  admin-d   and   less  fa- 
voured.    Ail   this  is   true   if  time  stood   still,  which 
contrariwise  rnoveth  so  round  that  a  froward  reten- 
tion of  eustom  is  as  turbulent  a  thing  as  an  imiova-2.i 
(ion;  and  they  that  reverence  too  much  old  times  are 
but  a  scorn  to  th{>  new. 


84      K::SAys  uu  <  ovnskls  civil  and  yjonAL 

It  were  ^ood,  tluToforo,  thnt  men  in  their  inno- 
vations woukl  follow  the  example  of  time  itself, 
which  indeed  innovateth  greatly,  but  quietly,  and 
by  decrees  scarce  to  be  jx'r(;ei\ed.  For  otherwise. 
5  whatsoever  is  new  is  uulooked  for,  and  ever  it  mends 
some  and  pairs"  others;  and  he  that  is  holpen°  takes 
it  for  a  fortun(s  and  thanks  the  time;  ajul  he  that  is 
hurt,  for  a  wron<i;,  and  imputeth  it  to  the  author. 
It  is  gt)od  also  not  to  try  experiments  in  states, 

10 except  the  necessity  be  urgent,  or  the  utility  evident; 
and  well  to  beware  that  it  be  the  reformation  that 
draweth  on  the  change,  and  not  the  desire  of  chaniie 
that  pretendeth°  the  reformation.  And  lastly,  that 
the  novelty,  thouidi  it   be  n.»t  rejected,  yet  be  held 

i.-.for  a  suspect";  and,  as  the  Scrij)ture"  saith,  "that 
we  make  a  stand  upon  the  ancient  way,  and  then  look 
about  us  and  discover  what  is  the  straight  and  right 
way,  and  so  to  walk  in  it." 


XXV.     OF    DISPATCH 

■ 

Affected"  disj)atch  is  one  of  the  most  danger- 
20OUS  things  to  business  that  can  be.  It  is  like  that 
which  the  physicians  call  predigestion,  or  hasty  di- 
gestion, which  is  sure  to  fill  the  body  full  of  crudities 
and  secret  seeds,  of  ihseases.  Therefor o'  measure  not 
dispttch  by  the  times  of  sitting,  but  by  the  advance- 
2r)inent  of  the  business.  And  as  in  races"  it  is  not  the 
large  stride,  or  high  lift,  that  makes  the  s.eed,  so  in 


■•e^fjiffi-f    :^A-Urmt;^ 


i 


ESSAYS   OH  rorXSKLS   VIVTL   AX/)    MORAL        8/) 


husHicss.  the  keepino-  Hose  to  iho  matlor.  and  not 
fnlvin«r  of  it  too  much  at  once,  proruroth  dispatch. 
Il  is  tlu^  care  of  sonio  only  to  conic  off  spco(iilv  for 
I  ho  tiine^;  or  to  contrive  f^nmo  false  periods^  of 
business,  because^  they  may  seem  men  of  dispatch.  r> 
Hut  it  is  one  thin<j:  to  abbreviate  by  contracting, 
ruiother  by  cutting  off;  and  Inisiness'so  handled  at 
Mnera.  -ittings  or  meetings  goeth  cr-mmonlv  back- 
ward and  forward  in  an  unsteady  maimer,  f  knew  a 
wise  man°  that  had  ii  for  a  byword,  when  he  saw  in 
men  hasten  to  a  conchision,  "Stjiy  a  little,  that  we 
may  make  an  end  the  sooner." 

On  the  other  side,  true  dispatch  is  a  rich  thing 
F'or  time  is  the  measure  of  !)usiness.  as  money  is  of 
wares;  and  business  is  bought  at  a  dear  hand °'  where  15 
there  is  si  .  :i  dispatch.  The  Sj)artans  and  Span- 
iards have  Ixen  noted  to  be  of  small  dispatch:  "Mi 
venga  la  muerte  de  Spagna."  let  my  death  come  from 
Sj)ain°;   for  then  it  will  be  sure  to  be  long  in  coming. 

Give  good  hearing  to  those  that  give  the  first  in- 20 
lor-iiation  in  business,  and  rather  direct  them  in  the 
i)eginning  than  interrupt  them  in  the  continuance 
of  their  speeches;  for  he  that  is  put  out  of  his  own 
order  will  go  forward  and  backward,  and  l)e  more 
tedious,  while  he  waiis  upon  his  memorv,  than  he  25 
could  have  been  if  he  h.-A  gone  on  in  his  own  course. 
Hut  sometimes  it  is  seen  tiiat  the  moderator^  is  more 
troublesome  than  the  actor.^ 

Iterations  an^  commonly  loss  of  time;    but  there 
IS  no  such  gain  of  time  as  (o  iterate  often  the  state 30 


<• « 


1 


86 


ASSAYS  OR  COUNSKLS   CIVIL   AND  MORAL 


of  the  (luestion,  for  it  ohasoth  away  many  a  frivo- 
lous spoecii  as  it  Is  coming-  forth.     I.ons  and  curious" 
speeclios  arc  as  fit  for  dispatch  as  a  roho  or  mantle 
with  a  Ions  train  is  for  race.     Prefaces,  and  passages, ° 
5  and  e.\cusations,°  and  oth(T  sj)eeches  of  reference  to 
the  person,  are  great  wastes  of  time;    and  though 
they  seem  to  proceed  of  modesty,  tliey  are  bravery. ° 
Vet  beware  of  being  too  matei-ial°  wiien  there  is  any 
impediment  or  ol)struction  in  men's  wills;    for  pre- 
10 occupation  of  mind  ever  recjuireth  })reface  of  speech, 
like  a  fomentation  to  make  the  unguent°  enter. 

Above    all    things,    order,    and    distribution,    and 
singling  out  of  parts,   is  the  life  of  dispatch,  so  as 
the  distribution  be  not  too  subtle;    for  he  that  doth 
15  not  divide  will  never  enter  well  into  business,  and  he 
that  divideth  too  much  will   never  come  out  of  it 
clearly.     To   choose   time   is   to   save   time,   and  an 
unseasonable  motion  is  but   beating  the  air.     There 
be  three  parts  of  business  •  i  he  i)re|)aration,  the  debate 
20or  examination,  and  the  perfection.     Whereof,  if  you 
look  for  dispatch,  let  the  t  liddle  only  be  the  work 
of  many,   and   th(>   first   and   last   the  work  of  few. 
The  proceeding  upon  somewhat  conceived  in  writing 
doth  for  the  most  })ari  facilitate  dispatch  ;   for  though 
2.-)  it  should   be   wholly    rejected,   yet   that   negative   is 
more   pregnant  of  direction"  than   an  indefinite,  as 
ashes  are  more  generative  than  dust. 


ESSAYS  on  (orxsKLs  cnjL  ax/>  moum.      8< 


XXVI.     OF    SEEM  I  NT,    WISE 

It  hath  been  an  opinion  th;\t  tlio  Fronoh  are 
wiser  than  tiiev  seem,  and  the  Sj)aniar(l<  seem  wiser 
tlian  tliey  are.  But  howsoever  it  be  l<elween  nations, 
certainly  it  is  so  between  man  and  man.  For  as 
liie  Apostle*^  saith  of  j»;()dhness,  "  havin«i-  a  sliow  of, 
•iodhness,   but  denvin";  the   power  thereof 


s(  I  cer- 


lainly  there  are  in  point  of  wis(U)m  and  sufficiency 
tiiat  do  notliin^-  or  little  very  solenmly,  "  mauiio" 
conatu  nugas. "  It  is  a  ridiculous  thing,  and  fit 
for  a  satire  to  })ersons  of  judgment,  to  see  wimt  10 
shifts  these  formalists^  have,  and  what  prosi)ectives° 
to  make  superficies  to  seem  bodv  that  hath  depth  and 
bulk. 

Some  are  so  close  and  reserveil  as  they  will  not 
siiow   their  wares   but    by   a   dark    light,   and   seem  15 
always  to  keep  back  somewhat :  and  when  they  know- 
within  themselves  thev  siteak  of  that    thev  do  not 
well  know,  woukl  nevertheless  seem  to  oth(»rs  to  kiiOA- 
of  that  which  they  may  not  well  sj)eak.     Some  help 
themselves  with   counteiiance  aiul  gesture,   and  are 20 
wise  by  signs,  as  Cicero^  saith  of  Piso,°  that  when 
lie    answered     him    he    fetched    owv    of    his    brows 
!)  to    his    forehead     ;md    beitt    the    oilier    down  to 
his  chin:    "Respondes,°  altero  ad   frontem    sublato, 
altero  ad  mentum  depresso  supercilio,  crudelitatem  l'.i 
tibi    non    placere. "      Some    think    to    bear    it^    by 
speaking    a    great     word     and     beiig    peremptory. 


88 


Kss.ns  OH  Loi  ysEi.s  r/i/L  an/ 


>    MOh'Ah 


and  go  <)!i  and  tnl«'  l.y  adriiil tai;<c  thai   wdidi  thov 

cannol    make  g(H)d.^'     Sonu-.    w  liaf-oover   is    bcvond 

their  reach,  will  seem  t..  despise  <.r  make  liglit  '.)f  it, 

as  impertinent  or  curious;    a;id  so  woukl  have  their 

.".ignorance  seem  judgment.     Some  are  never  without 

a  dilterence,  and  comnionly.  1)\'  anms'Mi:  mm  \vit!i  a 

suhtihy.  blanch^  the  maUer;     of  \\h...n  A.  (JelHu.s" 

saith.    "  llominem^  dehrum.   .jui    wrlx.rum   minutiis 

reruin  IVangit  pondc^a."     Of  which  kind  also  Phito^ 

10 in  his  "Piotagoras"^  bringeth  in   IVodicus^  in  scorn. 

and  maketh  iiini  make  a  speech   tliat   consisteth  of 

distinctions  from  the  beginning  lo  the  end. 

(Jenerally  sucli  men  in  all  deii,;eraiions  find  ease 
to  be°of  the  negative  side,  and  affect  a  credit  to  ol)j(ct 
1.-.  and  foretell  dilficulties.  For  when  prop.ositions  are 
denied,  there  is  an  end  of  them;  but  if  rhey  be  allowed, 
it  refjuireth  a  new  work:  wluch  false  point  of  wi.sdoni 
is  the  bane  of  business. 

To  conclude,  there  is  no  decaving  merchant,  or 
2<)mward°  beggar,  hath  so  many  tricks  to  uphold  the 
civdit  of  their^  wealth,  as  these  ej.upiy  persons  have 
to  maintahi  the  credit  of  their  siilliciencv.  Seeming 
wise  men  may  make  shift  to  get  opinion."^  but  let  no 
man  choose  them  for  employment:  for  .  "rtainly  you 
25  were  better  take  for  business  a  iium  somewhat 
absurd   than  over-fonnal. 


ESSAYS   OH   (OfWSKLS   rlVlL   AM)   MORAL        89 


XXVII.     OF    FRIEXD8HIP 

It  had  1>(m>ii  hnnl  for  liini''  that  spake  it  to  have 
put  more  tnitli  and  untruth  tofictlicr  in  iVw  words 
than  in  that  sjx'och.  '' W  ' Dso^vor  is  dcli^iit  I  m 
soiitutlo  is  (M'luM-  a  wild  hvu<X  or  a  Ood."  i  m  :.; 
is  most  true  that  a  natural  and  sccict  hatred  ir  i  r. 
av('rsation°  'owards  socie  y  in  any  man  iiath  8( ^  <  - 
what  of  tlu-  sava^-e  hoast ;  Init  it  is  most  uninu- 
that  it  siiould  liavc  any  character  at  all  of  th.(^  divine 
nature,  excef)t  it  proceed,  not  out  of  a  pleasure  in 
-solitude,  but  out  of  a  love  and  desire  to  se(|uester°  ic 
a  man's  seif  for  a  hijiher  conversation:  such  as  is 
found  to  have  Ix-en  falsely  an  1  feiuneiily  in  some 
of  the  heaMien,  as  M))inu>nides "  "he  Candian,  \uma° 
tiie  Roman,  l']mpedocl(>s°  tlu^  ^icilitui.  and  Apollo- 
i;ius°  of  Tyana  ;  and  truly  and  ieall\  in  dive?-s  of  their> 
ancient  hermits  and  holy  fathers  of  th(>  C'lnu'ch. 
But  little  do  men  })(>rceive  what  soiitud*'  is.  and 
how  far  it  extendeth;  for  a  crowd  i>  u(»t  co?;ipany, 
;uid  face<  ai'e  hut  a  .trallery  of  ]»i(  ture,-,  '  and  ti-lk 
hut  a  tink'.n^  cyml)al.°  where  there  is  no  love.  20 
The  Lathi  adafj;e  meeteth  with  it  a  little,  "Magna 
<*ivitas,°  magna  solitudo;"  because  in  a  great  town 
iriends  are  scatler<-d,  so  that  there  is  not  that  fel- 
li^vship.  for  the  most  part,  which  is  in  less  neighbour- 
hoods. I^ut  we  ma>  go  further,  and  afTirm  most  25 
truly  that  it  is  a  mere°  and  miserable  solitude  to 
want  true  friends,  without  wliich  the  world  is  but 


»  >t     •  rVj  1 


■<Ufc.Hli^-^.  4,  J.'J-tW  , 


rr^B 


90        ESSAYS   OH   COrXSELS   r/VIL   AN  It  MORAL 


a  \vil(l('ni(>ss.  And  (^vcn  in  this  sciiso  also  of  solitude. 
\vli()S()('V(>r  in  the  frame  of  his  nature  and  aft"eetion« 
is  unfit  for  friendship.  h(>  takc^th  it  of  the  beast, 
and  not  from  humanity. 
■»  A  principal  fruit  of  fiiendship  is  1h(»  ea.se  and 
diseh.'M-jie  of  the  fulne.ss  and  s\v(>llin^s  of  the  heart, 
which  passions  of  all  kinds  do  cause  and  induce. 
We  kF.ow  diseases  of  stoj)piji,t»;s  and  sulToeations 
are  the  most   danji'erous  in   the  body,  and   it   is  not 

lomiich  otherwise  in  the  mind;  you  may  take  sarza° 
to  open  the  liver,  steel  to  open  the  sj)leen.  flour  of 
sulphur  for  the  lunjjjs.  castoreum  for  the  brain,  but 
no  recei|)f  opiMieth  the  heart  but  a  true  frier(d,°  to 
whom    you    may    impart    <>;riefs,    joys,    fears,    hopes, 

1.')  suspicions,  counsels,  and  wliatsoevrM"  lieth  upon  the 
hc^art  to  oppress  it,  in  a  kind  of  civil  shrift  or  con- 
fession. 

It   is  a  stran^^(>  thin*!;  to  ol).serve  how  \\\)r\\  a  rate 
jrreat   kinijs  and  monarchs  do  set  upon  this  fruit  of 

•JO  friendship  whereof  we  speak;  so  ^reat  as  they  p^ir- 
chase    it    manv    times   at    the    hazard    of   their   own 


safetv    and    uj'eatii 


■or    })rmces.    \\\    rej^an 


1    of 


the  distance  of  their  fortune  from  that  of  their  sub- 
jects and  servanis.  camiot  ,ii;".ther  this  fruit  except, 

•-*'»  to  make  th<Miis(>l\('s  capable  thereof,  they  raise  some 
persons  to  be,  as  it  we'-e.  companions  and  almost 
equals  to  themselves,  which  many  times  sortetl;  to° 
inconvetiiem  ('.  The  moderr  lanjiuajies  «>;ive  unto 
sudi    persons   the   n.-iinc  of   favourites  or   privado(^s.° 

;<ia-  if  it  wer(>  mailer  of  ^race  or  conv(M-.sation ;   but  the 


ESSAYS   (Hi   (•(nSSF.I.S   civil    AXn    M(HiM. 


\)\ 


Koniaii  iminc  Mttaiiicth  the  true  use  and  cause  thereof, 
naming  them  "  particijH's  curaniin.""  tor  it  is  that 
which  tieth  the  kiutt.  And  we  see  phiinly  that  thi> 
hath  heeii  done,  not  l»y  weak  aiitl  j)assi(»nale  princes 
nlv.  I)iit  !)>■  tlie  wis«'st  and  most  pohtic  that  ev«'r 
■iuned:    wlio  have  oiti'iitimes  joined   to  tljems(^l\-es 


o 


!'( 


-onie  ot"  tlieir  servants,  whom  l)oth  tiiemselves  have 
(•:illed  friends,  and  allowed  others  likewise  to  call 
ihem  in  the  same  manner,  usinji-  the  word  which  is 


received  between   private  men 


Id 


L.    SvUa. 


w 


lien    he    commanded     ]{ome.    raised 


l'ompe\',°  .after  surnamed  the  Creat,  to  that   heijiht 
that   I'ompey  vaunted  himself  for  Sylla's  overmatch. 
Tor  when  lie  had  carried  the  consulship  for  a  friend 
of  his  ajiainst    the   pursuit   of  Sylla.  and   that   Sylla  i.'i 
did  a  little  resent  thereat,  and  heiian  to  speak  iifeat, 
I'oinpey  turned  uj)on  him  aiiain.  and  in  effe-t   bade 
him   be  (piiet.   "for  that    more  men   adored   the  sun 
risin.ii  than   the  sun  settinji."      With  Julius  ('a'sar."^ 
Dccinms   Ignitus''  had  obtained  that    interest,  as  he.'o 
set   him  down  in  his  testament  for  heir  in  remainder 
after  his  nephew.      And  this  was  the  man   that    had 
power   with    him    to  draw    him    forth    to    his   death. 
I'or  when  (  a'sar  would   have  discharged   the  <eiiate. 
ill  rejiard  of  some  ill  presa,ii"es.  and  especially  a  dream  •_•.-, 
of  Calptirnia."   this   man    lifted    him   gently    by    the 
arm  out  of  his  chair,  tellin,i;"  liim  he  hoped  h.'  would 
not  dismiss  the  senate  till  his  wife  had  dreamt  a  lu-tter 
dream.     And  if   seeineth  his  favour  was  so  <rreat   as 
Antoniu.s.'^  in   a   letter  which   is  recitetl   verbatim   in .")»» 


92 


/;6v;.ij.N  iti:  (oiwsels  <i\ii.  asii  MnuAt, 


Olio  of  ( 'i((.f 


o's    iniilippic.v    t-alictli    liim    "  vcnc/ 


witdi,    ;is    ii"    he    iiad    oiiciiaiitcd    ( 


ic-a. 


mi.s(>(l    A,uri|)f)a.''    ilioiifrh    of 


iP^.'u-.     Aiiffiist 


iis^ 


inouii    hirth,    to    that 


tioi<rh(   as.  wiipii  he  <-()i,sult('(i  with  .Mti'cenas°  af-oul 
-.the   inama.irc  of  his  .laii.'ditcr  Julia.   Ma 


the  lihortv  to  ( 


iiM-cnas    look 


ell  iiiiii.  "Tjat  he  nuiM  cit 


his  (l.iu<rhi(T  t(.  A-iriitj^i  or  talc 


IICI-    IIUIITN- 


I'CO  awav  h 


was  tio  thin  I  \v;.y.  ho  had  mado  liiii 


is  hf 


Til 


XTIIIS 


( 


I  SO  liTcat, 


v    there 
Witii 


ar 


loheiiihl 


as 


ll 


aims"    had    ascended    to    that 


ley   Hvo  Were  termed   atid   reckoned 


l)air  of  f)-ieiids.     Tilurius  in  a   lett 


II 


or   to   him   saith 


I'o  \n-i,^  amiciiia  nostra  iioii  occuhaxi 


an 


d  th 


whole  -nate  dedicated  an  altar  t.»  friendship,  as  to  a 
.srod.less.  ni  rosoect  of  the  -nMl  dearnoss  cjf  iriond^hir, 

i.-,!,etueen  them  two.     The  like  or  more  was  between 
N'pi minis  Sevoius^  ami  PJautiamis.^     For  ho  forced 
his  oldest  son  to  marry  the  daiiuhtor  of  IMautiamis 
and  would  ofien  mainlain  Plautiamis  in  (hunj;  affronts 
to  his  son;   and  did  write  also  in  a  lot  lor  to  I  he  sonat<' 

L'ohy  those  words:  "  |  lov,.  the  man  so  well  as  I  wish  ho 
may  over-live  nie.  "  \ow.  if  tlu^so  princes  ha.l  boon 
as  a  Trajan, ==  or  a  Marcus  Aurolius.-^  a  man  miirjit  have 
^'^"»'-'"  l''-"  '!'i^  i'a<i  in-ocoodod  of  an  abundant 
A-oodn(-^  Ml  n.-.(ure;    but   boin^r  xno^^  so  wise,  of  such 

25stron-th  and  srveniy  o\  n.in<l,  and  so  .'xiremo  lovers 
'']  themselves,  as  .all  thcM  wore,  il  proveih  most 
plainly  thai  they  foun.i  their  own  fv>li(ifv,  thou^di 
as  ^n-oat  as  ever  hapi)oned  i.,  mortal  men."  but  as  u 
half-pie.'o.  exc<>pt  they  moi|o|,i  have  a  friend  to  make 
:«iMt  entire.     And  yet,  which  is  more,  they  were  princes 


EH 


ESSAYS   Oh   (Ol  \ShLS   r/yil.    .(.V/>    MOHAI.        0'? 


() 


wliidi  IkhI  wives,  sons,  ncphows :    and  \v\   all   !  iu\«>o 
could  not  suj^ply  tho  conifori  of  IriiMidship. 

It  is  not  to  be  foriiottfMi  what  CotniiuMis^  ol)sorvetli 
f  his  first  niaslcr,  I  )ukc  Charh  s  the  Hardy°;  namely, 
that  ho  wouIjI  conirnnnicatr  liis  sccrots  with  none,  and  5 
least  of  all  those  s(>('r(»ts  wliicli  1n)ul)led  him  most. 
\Vhereup<Mi  \\v  *i:oeth  on,  and  saith  tiiat  towards  iiis 
latter  tiin(>  "that  closeness  did  inipaii",  and  a  little 
rish  his  iinderstandinij. ""     Surelv  Cotnineiis  mon«;ht 


pe 


have  made  the  same  judgment  also,  if  it  had  ])leased  i<i 
liim.  of  liis  second  master,  Louis  \I.,  whose  closeness 
was  indeed  his  tormentor.     The  parable  of  Pythag- 


oras 


is   dark   but    tru(> 


Cor   ne  eiiito,"   eat    not 


the  heart.     Certainly,  if  a  man  would  give  it  a  hard 
phrase,  those  thai   want  frion<ls  to  open  themselve.s  is 
unto  are   cannibals   of   llu'ir  own   hearts.     J-iut   one 
riling  is  most  admirable"  (wherewith  I  will  conclude 
this    first-fruit    of    fricMidshi})),    which    is.    tiiat    this 


ro 


mmunicating  of  a    man's  self  to  iiis  friend   \\i)Y\ 


1N..S 


iwo   contrary    effects:     for    it    redenibleth    joys,   and  2i) 
cuttetii  griefs  in  lialves.     For  there  is  no  man  that 
imparteth  his  joys  to  his  friend,    but    he  joy(>lh  the 
more;    and  no  man  that   im))aneth  his  griets  to  liiri 
friend,   but    he  griexctli   the   l<^s>.     So   tiiat   it   is.   in 

1.  of  Hke  virtue  _'."! 
as  I  lie  alchemists  used  to  attribute  to  their  stone  for 
man's  Ixnly,  that  it  worketh  all  contrar\  elfects,  but 
still  to  the  good  and  benefit  of  nature.  But  yet, 
without  praying  \n  aid'^  of  alchemists,  there  is  a 
uiatiifest  imaue  of  tlii>  in  the  ordinarv  course  of  nature,  w 


truth,  of  o])eration  upon  a  man  s  mine 


m 


94         J'JSSAYS   OH   fof  XSKLS   <  IVlf.   AS 


l>    MOR.tL 


For  ill  Ixulics.  uiiion  str(Mi«illi(Mi('(li  ;uul  clicrislictli 
any  natural  action,  and,  on  tlic  otlicr  side,  wcaivonotli 
and  dulicfli  anv  viol(>rit  ini|)r(\ssion :  and  won  so  i.s 


it  of 
Tl 


mind.* 


ic   second    fruit    of   fricndsliip    is    licaltliful    and 


sovcr('i<i;n   for   flic   undcrs(;indini.' 

til 

fair  d; 


as   I  he   first    is   for 
ccMions.     l-'or    friciidshii)    makctli    indc(>d    m 
i\    in  flic  affect i(tns  from  storm  and  tempest; 


aft 


l)Ut   it   niaUeth  dayli<iiit   in  liic  nuder.^tandin^-  out   '.I' 
10  darkness    and    <'onfusi<Mi    of    lli(.imlits.      Xeidicr    is 
tiiis  to  I.C  understood  only  of  faithful  counsel,  which 
a  man  rec(>iveth  from  his  fri.-nd  ;   l.iit  before  von  (•(.inr 
to  that,  certain  it  is.  that   whosoever  hath 'his  nmid 
irauuht    with    many    thou'iiiis.    his    wits   and    under- 
ir.standiji»:  do  clarify  and  break  up  in  the  cornmunicatiii- 
and  disc(.ursin,u-  with  another:   he  tosseth  his  thoughts 
more  easily,   he  marshallelh   them   more  orderly,   he 
seeth  how  I  hex  look  when  they  are  turned  into  words; 
finally,  he  wa\<-th  wi,ser  than  himself,  und  that  more 
20  by  an   hour's  di>eourse  than  by  a  day's  meditation. 
Ij    was  well   said    by   Tliemistocles°   to   f!„>    Kin^-  of 
I'ersia,  -That  sjx-ech  was  like  cloth  of  Arras. °  opened 
a"(l  ))ut  abroad,  '  whereby  the  imaiicrv  doth  a|)pear 
111    h^ure;     whereas    in    ihoii-hts    they' lie    but    as    in 
-'.".packs."     Xeiiher   h   this  s(>cond    Iniit    of  friendship 
1"    openin-    th(.    nnd<'rstandin-.    restrained    onlv    u\ 
such  iriend<  as  are  abl(>  t,,  j-ive  a  man  counsel:  'they 
""l';''l  are  best,  but  even  without  that,  a  man  learnet'h 
ol  hmisell,  an.l  bruiiicih  liis  own  thoughts  to  li^ht .  and 
:*)wlietteth   his   wits   as   against   a  stone,   whidi   itself 


ASSAYS   an   COIXSKLS    ClVll.    ASI>    MOILM. 


cuts  not.     Ill  a  word,  a  man  were  hcttcr  iclatc  liim- 
.■^■•It"  to  a  stauia°  or  {)i('turo,  than  to  sntTer  his  tliou^hts 


thcr, 


Id  pass  in  snio 

A<1(1  now.  lo  make  this  second  friiit  of  fri(Mi(lsliip 
(•(•niplctc.   tliat   otlicr   point    wliicli   licth   nioic  open, 5 
;in<l    failcth    witliin    vuliiar    observation:     wliicii    is 
laitht'nl    counsel    from    a    friend.     Herachtus"^    sailh 

well 
best. 


rei'i 


111  one  of  his  enijimas,  "Dry'  hiilit   is  ev<'r  the 
"     And  certain  it  is.  tiiat  tlie  huht   that   a  man 
iv(>th  by  counsel  from  another  is  drier  and  jHirerlo 


ihaii  that  which  conieth  from  his  own  undeiMandiiiii 


aiH 

III 


I  jud 


iinienl 


w 


hicii   is  ever   infused   and  drenched 


his  affections  and  customs.     So  as  there  is  as  much 
,'ifti'reiic(>   belwecMi   the  (ounscl   that    a   frieii  i  uiveth. 
and  that   a  man  ^i\(>th  himself,  as  there  is  betw(>en  i.-^ 
the  counsel  of  a  friend  and  of  i\  flattei'er.      I'or  there 
i<  no  such  liatterer  as  is  a  man's  self;    and  th(>r(>  is 
IH»  such   remedy   auainst    flattery  of  a   mans  sell   as 
the    liberty    of   a    friend.     Counsel    is   of    two   sorts: 
the   one   conc(>rnini:    niamu  rs,    '^l  e   other   concern i i i,u -i) 
business.      For    the    first,    ibe    |.est    ))reservative    to 
keep  the  mind  in  health  is  the  '"aithful  admonition  of 
a  friend.     1'he  caliin,i»;  of  a  man's  self  to  a  strict  aci'ount 
is  a   nu'dicine  soPiotime  too  piercin<i;  and   coi-rosive. 
KeadiiiiJ'  liood  books  of  morality  is  a  little  flat"^  and  ri 
(lead.     ()bservin«i;    )ur  faults   hi  others   is  sometinic^s 
unproper  for  .)ur  case,      liul    the  best    recei|)t    (best, 
1  sa>-,  to  work,  and  best  lo  take)  is  the  admonition 
of  a   fi'iend.     It    is  a   strauj»;e  thiny;  to  beholil   what 
::foss    errors    and    e\tr(  nie    absurdities    many,    espe-;iO 


ix;       KSSAYs  ni:  inrxsr.i.s  civij,  .iv/>   vo/ma 

cially  of  the  <iiv;tf<'r  .sort,  do  coinniii    I'or  w;i!i(  of  a 
friend   to  tell   iiu>m  of  thnii;    to  the  -roat   chui.a-,. 
botii  of  their  fninc  atul  foriuiK'.      For.  .-is  St.  .Iainc< 
saith.   they   a.v  as  men   -that    lo.,k  so.,u'time.i   ir.t.. 
..a  Mia.-,-,   ami    f.rescutly   for-ici    their  own   shape   aii<i 
tavour."     .Vs   for   i)iisiness.   u   man   niav   tiii.ik   if  he 
Will    that    two  eyrs   s(r   no   in()r(>   than   one;    or   thai 
a    jraniosfor    scefh    always    luori-    than    a    lo..kcr-,.n : 
"I-  that   a  man  in  an«'er  is  as  wi.s,.  as  he   that    halt: 
10 -aid    over    ih."    four-and-PA(.nt  v    letters;     ,,r    that    •. 
innsket  may  l.o  sho'  r,!r  as  U(>1I  upon  thr  arm  as  ufx..'. 
a  rest;    and  such  other  fond  '  an<l  liiuh  unapnations 
to  t'nnk  hniLsclf  all   in   all.      P,ut    wl,.-u  all   i-  do„o.- 
tiie  helpofpH,,i  .-onnsr.!  is  ifiat  wiiich  settct'i  !)usin».sv 
I.-istraijrht.     .And   if  any   man   thmi<    that    he   uill   take 
<'ouns,>l.    hut    it    shall    !.(•   l>v    pirc-s;     askin-   eouns,  I 
m  one  l.-ism.-.s  ot  one  man.  and  in  another  business 
"^    ■•"">lii.-r   irian-     ;-    is   well    (that    i.    to   sav,    belter 
!"'Hiaps  than  .f  he  aske.l  ,„,ne  at  al!).  hut  he  rum.eth 
•-''•fwo  danuers.     One.    ihat    he   <hall    i.ot    i.e    fait hfitih.- 
eoun<ell..:i:    r..r  ii   ,.  a  lare  i  hmi;;,  ex.-rpi   i,   i„.  |,.,„„  .^ 
p^-rt(vt   arnl  ,-.en-e  luend.   to  l.ave  r    unsel  uiv(.„,  but 
siu-h  as  Mnill   i-  bnvM.d   and  cnxtkci   n,  snruc  eed- 
'^"'^•^'    J'*'      ''fJ'     (';'•     -'ix.'h    i!.      Ti:.     oiher     ,},.,,    ;„. 
as^shall  hav.    .Mm;>.-|  ^.   .„.  nurtf,;i  a:.      nr,.afe.  thou-i> 
With  -ond  meam.-.  ;      !  ,,  ,m   ,,;,,.,;,   oi    .lis.-hi,!'  and 
imrtlv  of  :vm.,l;        V.        a-    i  y(. ,  w«*ilo  eall  a  phvsi- 
eian  that  is  tliou^iln  iiood  i,,r  th»-  pj^-  -f  the  disease 
yo'i  eoniplaiii  of,  but  is  imae.p.^.nted  ^  \\u  ^.wn-iKKf-  • 
;«)and  therefore  may  ])ut  you  in  way  for  a  pi<  s.-m  cure 


ESSAWS   OH   iOC.XSh'LS   (JIVIL    AXU    MnRAL        97 


out  •)V(-riiir')\v('tli  your  lu-alili  i?i  .some  other  kind, 
,iti(l  s.)  cure  t!i«'  disease  and  kill  the  patieiit.°  But 
[[  t'ri(Mid  that  is  wlioliy  a('(|i:aiiit(Ml  with  a  luau's 
esiatt  will  l>e\vare  by  furt liei'iiii!  ;iiiv  pi"cs(Mit  l)Usines-< 
I'ow  iic  daslieth  upon  othei'  iiicouNciiicncc.  And. 
tin  restore,  rest  not  nj)on  scattfred  <  .(Um-cIn^  ;  i  hev 
will    rather    distraet    and     mislead    than    settle    and 


)eaeo 


dii'ect . 

At'ter  tlu'sc   two   noble   unit-   oi'  iVieud-  .,p  ({ 
i"    th<'    al'lect  io/;^.    aiid    sujuioi-f    i,f    t  h(>    jud;:nient)  ifl 
!. >iloweth  the  la.^t  t'rnit.  whicji  is  like  tln^  pomegranate, 
mil  of  inan\   k(  rfiej-:    J  mean  ai  ;,  ai.d  i)earin,ii"  a  part 
,;i    all    aeli'.nis    and    occ-isioe  -       jiei-e,    iIk     best    wav 
!o  icpreseiit    lo   iil'e     the   t;ia!iiiol(i    use  «'t'  friendship, 
is  t»»  •■  ast     .itid  >ee  h'.w    Uiaii'    (iii;  _>■  th.''-(>  ;i|-(.  whieii  i.'i 
a  man  eatmo!  d<,  hiiii.-eif;   junl  then  ii  v  !:i  .ippeai"  that 
ii  was  a  >parmu  -peech  of  the  ancle-. j^  \  ■,  say.  "That 
a    friend    i-    another    mieself;*       \'.<\    iha'    a    friend    is 
far  more  than   him-elf.      Men   h:i\(    iheir  ;ime.°  and 
(i;e  ma!!\    ii)ues  in  ''e-sre  ot  son  ,    'mti'.-^  v\  incn  the\'i(} 
pniicip»;dl\'  lalu'  to  i.ia't.        ti*    be-towim  of  a  child, 
the  hnishinj  ^^\  a  wttriN,  or  tin    iil.f  .      if  ,!  man  ha\'e  a 
M'ue  ti'iend.  he  may  n  ■-:   almosi   .-ecnti    i-iat   :  Ik^  care 
(.f  those  thin^-  will   eonti.  ue  afier  'pm.     So  that  a 
eiiin  hatti,  as  it  v\<'i'e,  two  \]\i-<  m  hi-  desires.     A  man  •_>;■) 
hath  a  bod\  .  and   'hal    l-oiiy   is  ctnihned   to  a   })lace; 
ImU  where  friendship  is.  all  oilii  (>s  of  life  ;ir<  ,  as  it  wore. 
urati'ed  \i>  him  and  his  deputy,  lor  h(^  xwnx  exercise 
iliem    b\    his    friend.     How    man\    ihinus   are    there 
vhich   a   man   c;tmieit.    \>'ith   an\    face  or  coa^  Ijne.ss,  :;<. 


98        KSSAYS    OR   (  <)(  SSKLti   CIVIL    AMt   MORAL 

sny  or  do  himself !     A  man  can  scarce  all(>,i,^e°  liis  own 

n)erits  with  modesty,  much  less  extol  them:    a  man 

cannot  r  »metimes  I. rook  to  supplicate  oi-  i)e<i-;    and  a 

nutnher  of  the  Hke.      But  all  these  rhin^^s  are  ^racefu' 

5 in  a  friend's  mouth,  which  iuv  l)lushin<i;  in  a  man's 

own.     So  a,i!;aiii.  a  man's  person  hath  many  i)roper° 

relations   which   he  cannot    put   off.      A   man  cannot 

speak  to  his  sou,  i)ut  as  a  fa'.:,  /;   to  his  wife  hut  as  a 

husband;  to  his  enemy  hut  .\[.h\  terms°;  whereas  a 

10  friend  ma\   speak  as  the  case  re(juires,  and  not  as  it 

Korteth   with    the   person.      Hut    to  enumerate   these 

thin<is  were  endless.      1  have  ,i;iven  the  rule  where  a 

man  camiot  Htly  play  his  own  part°:  if  he  have  not 

a  fricntl,  he  may  quit  the  stage. 


XXVni.     OF   EXPENSE 

15      Riches  are  for  spending',  and  spendin«2:°  for  honour 
and  good  actions.     Therefore  cxtraordinarv  expense 
must   j)e  limited  by  tlic  worth  of  the  occasion;    for 
voluntary  undoing°  may  be  as  well  for  a  man's  country 
as  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven.     But  ordinarv  expense 

-'<)(.ught  to  bo  limit(>d  by  a  man's  estate,  andgoverned 
with  such  regard  as  it  be  within  his  compass,  and  not 
subj.  ct  to  d(>ceit  and  abu.se  of  servants.^  an<l  ordered 
to  the  best  sh(Av,  that  the  bills  mav  be  less  than  the 
•'Stimaiion    abnvid.     ( Vrtainly.    if   a    man    will    keep 

•j.-but  ot  excii  IuhmI.  hi-  ordin.ary  expenses  ought  to  be 
i'Hf    lo  the  half  of  his  receipts;    and   if  he'think   to 


J-:SSAYS   OR   CorXS.F.LS   CIVIL    AX  It    MORAL 


90 


\\;i\  licli,  l)Ul  {()  the  lliir.l  piirt.  It  is  no  hascnoss  for 
I  Ik' frf(vil(>st  to  (l(>s(  t'nd  and  l)ok  into  tlicirown  estate. 
Some  forl-"ar  il  not  upon  ne^lijz;enee  alone,  but 
.loiil)tin,u;'^  to  hrin^  tlietnselves  into  inelanelioly,  in 
r<'S|)eet     they 


Oiall  find  it  broken.  Hut  wounds  r. 
cannot  l)e  cured  witliout  searcliiui;.  He  tliat  eaiuiot 
look  into  his  own  estate  at  all  had  need  both  choose 
well  tluKse  whom  he  e)nploy(>th,  and  ch*»nji;e  them 
ot'tcii;  for  new  are  more  timorous  aiai  less  subtle. 
He  that  can  look  into  his  estate  but  seldom,  it  be- m 
hoveth  him  to  turn,  all  to  certainties. °     A  man  had 


nec( 


I.   if 


plentiful    in    some    kind    of  exjxMise 


to  be  as  savinti  a.iiain  in  some  other:  as  if  he  be  plenti- 
ful i'  diet,  to  b(>  sa\in,ir  in  a|»parel;  if  he  be  plentiful 
in  I  he  hall,"  to  be  savin'.;;  in  the  stable;  ami  the  like,  i: 
I'or  he  iliai  is  ))lentiful  in  expcMises  of  all  kinds  will 
hardly  l)e  preserxcd  froni  decay.  In  clearing  of  a 
man's  estate,  he  ma\-  as  \\cl!°  hiu't  himself  in  bein^ 
too  sudden,  as  in  leftiuii;  it  run  on  too  Ion*!;;   for  hasty 


ellinii'  is  conuno 


nlv 


disadvantajceable  as  interest.  •_»(> 


Besides,  he  tluit  clears  at  once  will  relapse,  for  finding 


himselt  out  of  straits  i»e  will  revei 


t   !(•  1 


us  customs 


but  he  that  cleareth  by  defirees  induceth  a  habit  of 
fru^ali'v,  and  «iaineTh  as  well  upon  his  mind  as  upon 
his  "Si;,,{'.     fertaiidy.  w  ho  hath  a  state  to  repair  may 


not   despise  small   tluiiiis;    and   commonly   it    is  less 
/■-hi^noi-  .ible  t(>  abr   lu'e  petty  chariies  than  to  stooj) 

A    man    oujiht    warily    to   befjin 
bc'iun,    will    contiiiu(>;     l)ut    in 


t(. 


I' 
•iiari:' 


(\     '.:el  I  i;ilis. 


wni. 


I, 


w!U'( 


\i,i  that  iciurn  .lot.  he  mav  be  more  mauiiificeni . ;'.«; 


itil^^i^'iaA.fii 


loo 


J-JSSAYS   on  r(j(  \SKLS   rniL   AMI   MORAL 


XXIX.     OF   THE   TRUE   GREATNESS   OF 
KINGDOMS    AND    ESTATICS 


The  spoocli  of  Tliomistoclos,^  the  Atl 
was   hauj^^hty   and   arrogant    in   tak 


le 


himself,  had  I 


man 
ing  so   miK 


wliifh 
h    t 


o 


)( 


'cn  a  snivc  and  wise  ohsorvation  and 
censurr',°  applied  at   iai^e  to  others.     Desired   at   a 
5 least    to  toueh  a  lute,   lie  said   he  rmld   not    fiddle 
l)iit  yet   lie  eouKl   mak( 


Tliesc  words,  holpen^  a  little  witi 


I  small  town  a  iz\ 


■e:i!    eitv 


1  a  nieta})lior.'^  mav 


express  two  differini?  ahilitio^  in  those  that  deal 


)usiness  of  estate.     For  if  a  t 


HI 


n 


10  couiisellors  and  stat(^snion   \  I 


i{>  survey  be  taken  of 


lere  may  bo  found,  t  houKh 
rarely,  those  wluch  r-aii  make  a  small  state  ^r,-oat  and 
yet  cannot  hd.ll..;   as.  on  the  other  side,  there  will  be 

die  verv  eunninjrlv. 


found  a  ^reat  manv  that  can  hd 


!)ut 


yet  are  so  far  from  IxMujr  able  to  mal 


r.state  ^reat.  as  their  o:iit^  lidh  th<.  oth 


nake  a  small 


1)1 


ni^  a  gr-at  and  fiourishins  estate  t 
And    ecrtainlv    th»-(> 


lor  wav 


to 


o  ruin  and  decav. 
generate  arts  and  shifts, 
uherebv  manx  counsellors  and  ffovornors  oaiu  both 
tavour  with  luoir  masters  and  estimation  wiUi    the 

•-'ovul^rar,  des-r/e  no  better  name  than  fiddling:  beinir 
t  u!ius  rather  pleasin^r  for  the  time,  and  graceful  to 
themscues  only,  than  ten<Iin^  to  the  weal  and  ad- 
vancement of  the  state  which  thev  serve.  There 
are,  also,  no  doubi.  counsellors  and  ^rovernors  which 

'r,  may  be  held  sufficient,  iiiyotiis  pnrca^  able  to  mana^e° 
ahan-s.  and  to  keep  them  fr(mi  precipices  and  manifest 


- 


KSSAYS   OH   ((USSKLS   (IMI.    .\M>    MOHM.       101 


iii!H«n\(*iiH'iU'e!s:     w 


hid 


I.     lU'Vt'I 


tl!cl 


t'SJ 


Mif    fjir    iwiux 


ihc  ability  to  raise  aiul  auii>lify  an  estate  in  |H)\vor. 
means,  ami  fortune.      But  l>e  th(>  woiknien  what  they 


ti 


lav  be,  let  us  ^peak  of  t!ie  \v< 


)ik:    tiuit   IS.  the  true 


mcainess  of  kiu^th)Uis  ami  e,~ttites.  ami  the  uieai 
llieivof;  an  arjrujuent^  lit  lor  jireat  and  mighty 
itiinees  to  have  in  their  hand,  to  the  end  that  neither 
asurin.t!;  their  forces  they  lose  tlieniseKcs 
terprises;    nor.  on  the  other  side.  l»y  undor- 


\i^:* 


i)V  over-mt 


•  n  vain  <'nl 


valuinir  them,  they  deseend  to  fearful  and  pusillani- m 
.nous  (\)Unsels. 

The  ^ii-eatness  of  an  estate  in   l)ulk  uud  territory 
-loth    fall    under"    measure;     and    the    <>reati.ess    (.f 
tinanees  and   revenue   tloth    fall   under  compulation. 
The   population    may    ajjpear   by    musters;    and    lliei:> 
number  and  j^reatness  of  cities  and  towns  by  cirtls" 
and  mai)s.     P>ut  yet   there  is  not  anythinn'  amongst 
civil   alfairs   more   subjj'ct    to   error,    than    the    ri,-;ht 
valuation  and  true  judgment    concerning  the   [)<;\ver 
:md    fo'-ces   of   an   estate.     The    kingdom    of   heaven  i!t» 
•s  compared,  not  to  any  great  ktniiel  or  nut.  but  to 
a  grain  of  mustard-scctP;    wiiich  is  one  of  the  k-ast 
grains,  but   hath  in  il  a  pn«perty  and  spirit    hastily 
to  get   up  and  spread.     So  are  there  states  great  in 
territory,  and  yet   not   apt   !'•  enlarge  or  command;--':, 
ami  some  that  have  but  a  small  dimension  oi  stem, 
and  yet  apt  to  be  the  foundations  of  great  monarchies. 
Walled  towns,  stored  arsenals  and  armouries,  gocKlly 
races  of  horse,  chariots  of  war,  ek  phants,  orilnaiue, 
artillery,  antl  the  like:    all  this  is  b'tt   a  sheep  in  aau 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


Mi 

ISO 


12.8 
■  12 

1^ 


2.5 

12.2 

2.0 
1.8 


1.6 


^     /APPLIED  IIVHGE 


inc 


1653  East   Main   Street 

Rochester,   New  York         14609       USA 

(716)   482  -  OJOO  -  Phone 

(716)    288  -  5989  -  Fax 


lOL' 


A'.S'.S'.n.S   <,U   CO/XShLS   (  IVIL   AM>   M(,Ii.\I. 


lion's  skill,  oxcopt   tli(>  l)ivo(l  and  disposition  of  the 
people  he  stout°  and  ^va^lik(^     \av.   muiiher  \xMi 
\u  armies,  importeili  not  inuelMvheiv  the  people  is  of 
weak  courao-e;  for.  as  Vii-iP  saith.  it  never  trouhk^s 
oa  woli   hoxv  many  tlie  sheep  he.      The  armv  (,f  the 
lersians,  in  the  plains  of  Arh,>la,°  was  such  a  vast 
sea  of  i)(H)ple  as  it  did  somewhat  astonish  tlu^  com- 
manders m   Alexand(>r-sO  army;    who  eame  to  him 
therefore,  and  wished  him  t(»  set  ujx.n  them  hv  pioht  • 
lohiit   he  answered,   he  woiikl   not    pilfer  the   vietor>- • 
and    the    defeat     was    easy.     Whe,,    Tioranc^s.-    tJie 
Armenian,    hem-   encamped    iipo„   a    hill   with    four 
hundred   thoiisan<l   men.  discovered   the  armv  of  th<. 
iiomans.  hem-  not  ahov(.  h.urtcen  thousand."  march- 
iMnfr   towards   him.    he   mad(>   himself   merrv   with   i, 
and  said,   "Yonder  men   are  too  manv  for  an  am- 
hassa^re.  and  too  few  for  a  fi-ht.  "     ]^„t  hefo.v  the  sun 
sot  he  lound  them  enouoh  to  -ive  him  th,'  chase  with 
inhnite   slauo-hter.     Many   are   tli(.   (examples   of   the 
20Kreat  odds  hetween  numher  and  coura-e-    s,,  that  a 
»ian  may  truly  make  a  judunient.  that  the  principal 
P()int  oi  ^rreatness  in  any  state  is  to  hav(>  a  rac^.f 
mihtary  men.     \eith(>r  is  nionev  the  sinews  of  wu- 
as  It  IS  trivially  °sai„,  where  the  sirunvs  of  men's  arms' 
iv.  in  base  and  effeminate  people,  atv  lailinii-;   for  Solon  ^ 
said  well  to  C'nesus.-  wIumi  in  ostentation  he  showed 
nm  his  gokl:    ''Sir,   if  any  other  com,>   that   hath 
he  ter  iron  than  you.  h(.  will   he  master  of  all  this 
MoM.        rheretore    let    any    prince    or    state    think 
.^•soherly   ol    Ins   forces,   except    his   militia   of  natives 


ESSAYS   Oil'   rorXS'A'A.S   (717/.    .1A7>    Ml  Hi. \  I.       I<»:> 


!)(>  of  <ioo(l  and  valiant  soldiers.  And  lot  princes. 
oil  the  other  side,  that  hav«^  snl)j(M'ts  of  martial 
disposition,  know  their  own  str(Mi<i;I.,  unless  thev° 
■  (•  otherwise  wantinii  unto  tiienis(»lv(>s.  As  for 
1' d'cenarv  forces,  which  is  the  h(>l'>  in  this  case","' 
;:ll  (>\aniples  show  that  whatso<>ver  estate  or  ))rince 
doth  rest  u|)on  them,  he  ma.\"  spread  his  feathers 
ior  a  lime,  hut  he  will  inew'^  them  soon  after. 

The    hlessinji   of  Jiidah    and    Issachar'^   will    nev(T 
meet,  that  the  sanu*  j>(>o})l(>  or  nati(»n  should  he  both  m 
the  lion's  whelp  and  the  ass  het  W(mmi  hurdens .   neither 
will   it    he,   tliat    a   people  overlaid  with   taxes  >hould 
vwv   heconie    valiant    and    martial.      It    is    true   that 
!;i\(>s  le\ied  hy  consent  of  the  estate  do  ahate  men's 
courage  less;    as  it  hath  l>e<Mi  seen  notahlx'  ui  the  e\- to 
cises°  of  the  Low  Countries,  and,  in  some  decree,  in 
the  subsidies^  of   i'Ji<iiand.      l''or  you  must    notiMhat 
we  speak  now    of  the  heart,  and   not   of  the   purse. 
So  that,  althouiih  the  same  tribute  and  tax,  laid  by 
consent  or  by  imposin<i;.  be  all  one  to  the  purse.  y(>t  it  li) 
works  diversely  upon  the  coura«ie.     So  that  you  may 
conclud(>    that    no    people    overcharged    with    tiibute 
is  lit   for  empire. 

i.et  states  that  aim  at  greatness  tak(>  heed  how  their 
nobility  and  gentlemen'  di  multij-ly  too  fast:  for  _'."i 
ihat  maketh  the  coimnon  subject  grow  to  be  a  i)easant 
and  b;ise  swain,  driven  (  ut  of  heart,  and  in  effect  hut 
tiie  gentleman's  labourer.  l"]veii  as  you  may  see  in 
co|)|)ice'^  woods,  if  you  leav(>  your  stad(lles°  too  thick 
\i)U  shall  never  have  clean  underwood,  but  shrubs :w 


104 


ESSAYS   OR   ('OljySKLS  ClVlh   AM)   MORAL 


and  busht's.  S(>  in  count rios.  if  the  gontlenion  bo 
too  many  tlie  )mmons  will  bo  baso;  ami  von  will 
l)ring  it  to  that,  that  not  tlu^  hnndml  jk)!!^"^"  will  b(> 
fit  for  an  holniet;  (>spooialiy  as  to  tho  infantry, 
5 which  is  the  norvo  of  an  army:  and  so  thoro  will  bo 
great  population,  and  little  strength.  This  which  1 
speak  of  hath  bee?i  nowhere  better  seen  than  by 
comj)aring-  of  England  and  France:  whereof  England, 
though   far   less   in   territory   and    population,    hat li 

10 been,  nevertheless,  an  overmatch;  m  regard""  the 
middle  people  of  England  make  good  soldicTs,  which 
the  peasants  of  France  do  not.  And  herein  the  device 
of  King  Henry  VII.  (whereof  I  haAe  sj^oken  largel}- 
m  the  history  of  his  life)  was  profound  and  admirable; 

15  m  making  farms,  and  houses  of  ausbandry,  of  a  stand- 
ard: that  is,  maintained  with  such  a  ])roportion  of 
land  unto  them,  as  may  breed  a  subject  to  live  in 
convenient  plenty,  and  no  servile  condition;  and  to 
keep  tho  plough  in  the  hands  of  the  owners,  and  not 
20  mere  hirelings.  And  thus  indeed  you  shall  attain 
to  \  n-gil's  character,  which  he  gives  to  ancient  Italy: 

"Terra"  potrns  .-irmis,  at(]ue  ubere  glebr." 

Neither  is  that  state  (which,  for  anvthing  1  know,  is 
almost  peculiar  to  England,  and  hardlv  to  be  found 
-'..anywhere  else,  except  it  be.  perhaps,  in  Poland)  to 
be  passofl  ov(>r:  I  mean  the  state  of  free  servants  and 
attendants  upon  noblonion  and  gentlemen;  which  are 
now^ays  inferior  unto  the  yeomaiir\-  for  arms.  And 
liierefore,    out   of   all   questi.  .,,    tho   splendour   and 


EUSAYS   OH   I  orSSF.LS   CIVIL    A XI)   M<tRAl      105 


^KW 


magnificence,  and  i;reat  retinues,  and  iiosj)itaiity  of 
noblemen  and  gentlemen,  received  into  custom,  doth 
much  conduce  unto  martial  greatness;  wliereas,  con- 
trariwise, the  close  and  reserved  living  of  noblemen 
and  gentlemen  causeth  a  penury  of  military  forc(>s.      3 

By  all  means  it  is  to  be  procured  that  the  trunk 
of  Nebuchadnezzar's  tree°  of  monarchy  be  gn^at 
tiiough  to  bear  the  branches  and  the  boughs;  tliat  is, 
iliat  the  natural  subjects  of  the  crown  or  state  b(\Mr 
a  sutlicient  proportion  to  tlie  stranger  subjects  lliaf  lo 
I  hey  govern.  Therefore  all  states  that  are  liberal 
of  naturalization  towards  strangers  are  fit  for  (Mnpire. 
For  to  think  that  an  handful  of  p("oi)le  can,  with  the 
greatest  courage  and  policy  in  tiie  world,  (>mbracc 
too  largo  extent  of  dominion,  -  it  may  hold  for  a  15 
time,  but  it  will  fail  suddenly.  The  Spartjms  were  a 
nice°  people  in  point  of  naturalization:  whereby, 
while  they  kept  their  compass-,  they  stcKul  firm;  but 
A\  <'n  they  did  s])read,  and  their  boughs  weiv  ))rcomen° 
too  great  for  their  stem,  they  became  a  windfall  upon  I'O 
the  sudden.  Ni^v^-r  any  state  was,  in  this  jxtiut,  so 
open  to  receive  strangers  into  their  body  as  W(M-e  the 
Romans;  therefore  it  sorted°  with  them  accordingly, 
for  they  grew  to  the  greatest  monarchy.  Their 
maimer  was  to  grant  naturalization,  whi(h  they  called 83 
"jus  civitatis,''°  and  to  grant  it  in  the  highest  degree: 
that  is,  not  only  "jus  conmiercii,°  jus  connubii,  jiis 
liereditatis,"  but  also  "jus  suffragii,""  and  "jus 
hononun";°  and  this  not  to  singular°  persons  alone, 
but  likewise  to  whole  families,  yea,  to  cities,  and  ai) 


100    ESSAYS  Oh'  ('o(xs::ls  chil  Axn  mohai. 


soiuct lilies    to    luuions.     Add    to    this    tlicir    (Mi.-toni 
of  ))lant;itioi!  (»f  colonics. "  wlicrcbv  the  Koinaii  plant 
was   rer.ov(>d    into   the   soil   of  otluM-   nations;     and 
piittin.ij   both    constitutions"   toucther,    you    will   sa\- 
nthat   it   was  not   the  Romans  that   spread   upon   the 
world,   but   it   was   the  world   that   spread   upon   the 
Honiaiis;  and   that   was   {\\o  sure  way  of  iireatness. 
1    have    marvelled    sometimes    at    Spain,    iiow    they 
fiasp  and  contain  so  larjic  dominions,  with  so  hnv 
10 natural  Spaniards;  hut  sur(\  the  whole  compass  of 
Spain  is  a  very  ^reat  body  of  a  tree. °  far  above  Home 
and  Sparta  at  the  first.     And,  l)esid(>s,  thoujrh  th(>y 
have  not  had  that   usa.uc  to  naturaliz(>  liberally,  yet 
they  have  that  which  is  next  to  it  :  that  is.  to  employ, 
ir. almost  indifferently,  all  nations  in  their  militia  of  or- 
dinary soldiers,  \i\\  and  sometimes   in   their  hiiihest 
commands.     Xay.  it  seemeth  at  this  instant  lliev  are 
sensible  of    this   want    of   natives;   as   bv    the   JVau- 
matical  Sanction. °  now  published.  ap|)eai-eth. 
•-H>      It   is  certain  that   sedentary  and  within-door  arts, 
and    delicate    manut;:,'t ures    thai    re(|uire    rather    the 
hn^er  than  the  arm.  have  in  their  na.rure  a  contrarietx 
lo  a  military  disposition.     And  ^-enerally  all  warlike 
people  are  a  little  idle,  and  Iov(>  danu'er  better  than 
LT.  travail;    neither  must  tli(>y  Uv  loo  much  broken  ef  it. 
if  they  shall  be  preserved  in  xi^our.     Then'fore  it  was 
Kreat   advanta<ie°    in    the   ancient    states   of  Sparta. 
Athen.«,  Rome,  and  otliers,  that  tliey  iiad  the  use  of 
slaves,  which  commonly  did  rid''  tlio.se  manufactures; 
.•«>l)ut  that  is  ab  .lished,  in  greatest  part,  by  the  Christian 


J-:SSAYS   OR   COIXSKLS   <  IVII.    AND    MuRM      107 


iP«i 


i:i\v.  That  which  coiiioth  iH'arcst  lo  it,  is  to  leave 
those  arts  chiefly  to  stfantiers  (which  for  that  purpose 
•ire  the  more  easily  to  be  receive(l),  ami  to  contain 
ihe  jH-incipal  bulk  of  the  vulvar  tiatives  within 
those  three  kinds:  tillers  of  tlie  <iroun<l.  iVee  ser-.") 
vants,  and  handicraftsmen  of  stroniv  and  manl>-  arts, 
as  smiths,  masons,  carpenters,  etc.;  not  reckoning 
professed  soldiers. 

Hut   above   all,   for  emj)ire   and   ureatness.    it    im- 
porteth  most  thai  a  nation  do  profess  arms  as  their  to 
l)riucipal   honour,   snidy,   and   occupation.     For   the 
ihin<is   which   we   f(<.  merly    have  spokcMi   of  are   but 
habilitations°  towards  arms,  and  wiiat  is  habilitation 
without    intention    and    act?     Romulus. °    after    his 
death,  as  they  report  or  fei<>ii.  sent  a  present"  to  their* 
Romans,  that  :ib..ve  all  they  shouUl  intend°  arms; 
and  then  they  should  prove  the  jxreatest  empire  of 
the  world.     The   fabric   of  the  state  of  Sparta  was 
wholly,    though    not    wisely,    framed    and    composed 
to   that  scoi)e°   and   end.     The   Tersians   and    Mace--'0 
donians  had   it   for  a    flash. °     The  Cauls,  (iermans, 
(loths,  Saxons.    Xormans.   and   others,   had   it  for  a 
time.     The  Turks  have  it  at  this  day.  thouji'  i  in  ^reat 
(feclination.°     Of  Christian    JMuope,   they   that   have 
It  are  in  effect  only  the  Spaniards.     But  it  is  sf)  i)lain'J.-. 
that  every  ma»    jM'oliteth  in  that  he  most  intendeth, 
that  it  needeth  not  to  be  stood  ui)on.°     It  is  enough 
to  point  at  it,  that  no  nation  which  doth  not  directly 
profess  arms  may   look   to   have  jrreatness  fall   into 
their°  mouths.     And  on  the  other  side,  it  is  a  most^fl 


los 


KSSAYS   on   rocxsKLS   (  n//.    AXJf   MORAL 


rertaiii  oracle  ol"  linie^  that  those  stat(\s  tliat  ronfiniir 
lon«!:  in  that  profossion.  as  fh(>  Romans  and  Turks 
priticipahy  have  done,  do  wonders;  and  those  that 
have  professed  arms  hut  forana^e  have,  notwithstand- 
r)in<r,  ronunonly  attained  that  fjreatness  in  that  a<re. 
whieh  maintained  tiiem  lon^^  after,  when  tiieir  jm;- 
fession  ;uid  exercise  of  arms  hath  orowr.  to  decay. 

Incident  to  this  point  is  for  a  stale  to  have  tJiose 
laws  or  customs  which  may  reach  forth  unto  tliem 
10 just  occasions,  as  may   he   f)retf>nded,='  of  war;    for 
there  is  tiiat  justice  imprinted  in  the  nature  of  men 
that    they  (MUer   not    upon   wars,   whereof  .so   many 
calamities   (h>  ensue,    hut    upon    sotne.   at    th(>   least, 
specions.  "rrounds  and  (piarrels.^     The  Turk  hath  at 
l.-.hand.  for  cause  of  war.  \\\o   propa^jation   of  jiis   law 
or  sect, —  a  (juarrel   that   he  may  always  command. 
The   Romans.   thou£ih   tluy  esteemed    the  extendin.ii 
the  limits  of  their  emj)ire  to  he  iireat  honour  to  their 
^^enerals   when    it    was  done,   yet    they   never   rested 
'-'ouj)on    that   alone   to   heiiii,   ,.,    yvar.      Tirst.   therefore. 
let  n.Mtions  that  pretend  to  .greatness  have  this,  ihat 
thev   1,(>  s(M,sihIo  of  wrongs,  either  upon   borderers, 
merchants,   or    politic    ministers;   and    that    liiey  si- 
not    too    lono-    upon    a    provocation.     Secondly,    iei 
2.- them  be  prest°  and  ready  to  uive  aids  and  succours 
to  their  confederates. °  as  it  ever  was  with  t  he  Romans ; 
insomuch  as.  if  the  confederate  had  lea.irnf^s  defensive 
with  (livers  other  states,  and  upon  invasicm  offered 
did    imj)lore    their   aids   severally,    vel    the    Romans 
;^)  woukl  ever  be  the  fort-most,  and  leave  it  to  none  other 


to  havo  the  lionoiii-.  As  for  tho  wars  which  were 
imeicntly  maclr  on  thr  bohaH"  of  a  kind  of  party,  or 
tacit  conformity  of  estate.^  I  do  not  see  how  tliey 
iiiay  he  well  justilio(l:  as  wlu  n  tiic  Romans  made  a 
war  for  tlie  lil)(  rty  of  (Ira'cia:  or  wiien  the  J.nce-5 
(la-monians  and  Athenians  made  wars  to  set  up  or 
pull  down  democr'\cies  and  olijiarchies;  or  when 
wars  were  made  hv  loreiirners.  imder  the  pretence 
of  justice  or    pr*    -  to   deliver  the   subjects  of 

others  from  tyr.  .d    oj)pression;  and    thr  like,  ui 

Let  it  suffice  that  nt  <siate  exjH'ct  (o  be  ^reat,  that  is 
not  awake  upon  any  just  occasion  of  arminij:. 

Xo  bodv  can  be  iiealthfui  without  exercise,  neither 
natural  body  nor  j)olitic°;  and  certairdy,  toakin«z;dom 
or  estate,  a  just  and  honourable  war  is  the  true  ir. 
exercise.  A  civil  war.  indeed,  is  like  the  heat  of  a 
fever;  but  a  foreign  war  is  like  the  heat  of  exercise, 
and  ser\eth  to  keep  the  body  in  health;  for  in  a 
-lothful  [)eace  l)oth  c()ura,ii;es  will  etfeminate°  and 
manners  corrupt.  Hut  howsoever  it  be  for  happiness, -3) 
without  all  (piestion  for  <rreatness,  it  maketh  to  be 
>tiiP  for  the  most  part  in  arms:  and  the  strength  of 
a  Ncteran  arm\  (thouuh  it  be  a  char<2;eable°  l)usines.s) 
always  on  f(*ot,  is  that  which  commonly  Jiiveth  the 
lavv,°  or  at  least  the  reputation  amongst  all  neij^'hbour i.*,-) 
staters;  as  may  well  l)e  seen  in  Spain,  which  hath  had 
i!i  one  part  or  otlier  a  Vetera*'  army  almost  ':'ontinually 
now  by  the  space  of  six-score  years. 

To  be  master  of  the  sea  is  an   abridfi;ment  of  a 
uionarch}-.''     (Mcero,''  writing  to  Anicus""  of  I'onipey"  ;«i 


110 


h-SSAYS    (,li   (  Of  XShLS   CIVIL    AND    MORAL 


Ills    })iv|);ii-afi()ii   n^^•liMst  (a'sar.°  saith:  "('()nsiliuni° 
Ponipcii  plane  Tlicniistoclouiii  ost ;    jMitat  eiiii  i,  qui 
inari    potitur.    cum    jvriuii    potiri. "     And    without 
doubt    i^)nlp(•y    had    tired   out   (  a'sar,   if  upon   vain 
5  confidonce  lie   liad   not    left   that   way.     We  see   the 
^n-eat  elTects  of  battles  by  sea:  tlie  battle  of  Aetiuni^ 
decided  the  empire  of  the  world:  the  battle  of  Le- 
panto^  arres.ed   the  ureatness  of   the  Turk.     Then- 
be  many  examples  where  sea  fights  have  been  final 
10 to  the  wat  ^-    but  this  is  when  prinees  or  states  have 
set  up  thrir  rest°  upon  the  battles.     I^ut  thus  much 
is  certain,  that  he  that  "onunands  the  sea  is  at  great 
liberty,  and  may  take  a;,  much  and  as  little  of  the  war 
as  he  will^;  whereas  those  that  be  strongest  by  land 
1")  are  many  tinu-s,  nevertheless,  in  great  straits.     Surelv, 
.'It  this  day.  with  us  of  Kuroi)e,  the  vantage  of  strength 
at  sea  (which  is  one  of  the  pri»    ipal  dowries  of  this 
kingdom  of  Creat    Hritain)   is  great:  both    because 
most   of   the   kingdoms   of    Kurope   are   not   merely° 
•-'() inland,  but  girt  with  the  sea  most  part  of  their  com- 
pass; and  because  the  wealth  of  both  Indies  seems, 
in  gr(>at  part,  but  an  accessary  to  the  command  of  the 


seas. 


The  wiirs  of  latter  ages  seem  to  be  made  in  the  dark 
LTiin  respect  of  the  glory  and  honour  which  reflected 
upon  men  from  the  wars  in  ancient  time.  There  be 
now  tor  martial  encourageiuf^it  some  degrees  and 
orders  of  chividry,  which,  nevertheless,  are  conferred 
promiscuously  upon  soldiers  and  no  soldiers;  and 
30 some  remembrance  perhaps  upon  the  scutcheon;  and 


KssjYs  OR  (orys]:Ls  rim.  wn  moral     111 


im 


some    liospitals    for    inaimod   soldicM's;   nii<l   siuli-Iikc 
tliin*;s.      But    in   ancioiit    times   the   trophies   creeled 
upon  the  phwo  of  the  victory;  tiic  ftiiierai  laudalives 
and    inonunuMUs   for   those    that    died    in    the    wars; 
I  he   crowns   aid   ^arhuids    p(>rsonal°;     the   style°   of.", 
cinpei.r,   which   the  .ureat    kin^s  of  the   world   after 
liorrowed;  the  triumphs^  of  tiie  liciierals  upon  their 
return;  the  ^reat    donati\('s  ami   laru'esses  ii|)oti   the 
(lisliandi!ii:    of    the    armies.       wvw    thmus    ahle    to 
iiifiame  all  men's  coura.ires.      lint,  ahove  all.  that  of  m 
ih(>  triumph  amonfjst  th(»  Romans  was  not   i)a,iiea!its 
or  iiauderv,'^  hut  one  i,f  the  wisest  and  noblest   'nsti- 
tutions  that  ever  was.     For  it  coiitained  three  thin<;s: 
honour  to  the  f»eneral.  riches  to  the  treasury  out  of 
the   spoils,   and   donatives   to   tiie   army.      But    that  i.'. 
honour,  perhaps,  were  not  fit  for  monarchies,  except 
it   be  in  the  f.erson  of  the  mona  ."h   himself,  (»r  his 
sons;   a;>  it  came  to  ])ass  in  th(>  times  of  tlie  lioman 
emperors,  who  did  imi)ropriate°  the  actual  triumphs 
to  themselves  and  their  sons,  for  such  wars  as  they  did  •_>(» 
aehieve  in    person;  and  left  only,  for  wars  achiev(Ml 
by  subjects,  some  triumphal  «»{U"ments  and  ensi^nis'^ 
to  the  general. 

To  conclude:  no  man  ean  by  earo-takinp;,  as  the 
Scripture"  saith,  add  a  eubit  to  his  stature  in  this-_>.^, 
little  niodel°  of  a  man's  body;  but  in  thejireat  frame 
of  kinp;doms  and  commonwealths,  it  is  i?)  the  power 
of  princes  or  estates  to  add  am|)litude  and  greatness 
to  their  kingdoms ;  for  by  introducing  such  ordinances, 
constitutions,  and  eustoms  as  we  have  mrv  ^ouehed,;<»} 


112      KSSAYS   Oh'   ((/CXSKLS   i  HJL    AM>   MORAL 

they  may  sow  ;j:?-(':itnoss  to  their  posterity  and  sur- 
cession.  But  these  1  hiiifjs  ar<>  eommouiy  not  observed, 
but  left  to  take  their  chance. 


\X\.     OF    I{K(;iMKXT   OF    HKAT.TH 

Thehk  is  a  wisdom  in  this  beyonci  the  rnles  of 
."•physic;  a  man's  own  observation,  what  he  finds 
uood  of  and  what  lie  finds  hurt  of,  is  tiie  best  physic 
to  preserv(^  heahh.  I^ut  it  is  a  safer  conchision  to 
say,  "This  aiiivetli  not  well  with  me,  therefore  I  wili 
?u)t  continue  it,"  than  this.  "  I  find  no  offence  of  this. 

10  tJierefore  1  may  use  it."  For  strenstii  of  nature  in 
youth  passetli  over  many  excesses  wjncli  are  owinp;  a 
man  till  his  a^e.  Discern  of  the  coming  on  of  years, 
and  think  not  to  do  the  same  things  stilP;  for  aue 
will   not   he  defied.'     Beware  of  sudden   chan.i^e   in 

I.-. any  great  point  of  diet,  and  if  necessity  enforce  it. 
fit  tlie  rest  to  it;  for  it  is  a  secret,  botli  in  nature  and 
state,  tnat  it  is  safer  to  ciiange  many  tilings  than 
one.°  Fxamine  thy  customs  of  diet,  sleep,  exercise, 
apjiand.  and  tli(>  like,  and  try  in  anything  thou  shalt 

•-'<) judge  liurtfui  to  discontinue  it  by  little  and  little: 
but  so,  as  if  thou  dost  find  any  inconvenience  by  the 
change,  thou  come  back  to  it  again:  for  it  is  hard  to 
distinguish  tliat  which  is  generally  held  good  and 
whoj.'sonie,  from   that    which   is  good   particularly, ° 

2.-.  and  fit  for  thine  own  bod;.  To  be  free-minded  and 
cheerfull}'  disposed  at  hours  of  meat  ^nd  of  sleep  and 


KHSAYS   OH   (OlSSKLS   llVli.    A  Sit    M'UAI.      WW 


1)1  exercise,  is  one  of  the  ix'st  |)re''e|)ts  <•*"  ,oti«»;  lastin«i. 
As  for  the  passion-^  arid  studies  of  the  mind,  avoid 
viivy,"  anxious  fears,  an^er  frettiiiii  in\v;ii-ds,  subtile 
and    knotty    inquisitions,    joys   and    accierations   in 
excess,     sadness     not     eoinniunieateil.         Knterlain  5 
hopes;    mirth    rather  than    joy,    variety   of    deh/^lits 
rather  than  surf(>ii  of  them;    \von<U'r  and  athnirallon. 
;iiid    therefore    novehies;  studies   that    fill   the   mind 
with    splendid    and    illustrious    ol>jeets.    as    histoii's. 
I'ahles,    and    eontemplations    of    nature.      If   you     i\  ;•' 
[;hysie  in  health  altouether.  it  will  he  too  stranjic  fo; 
v(»ur  l)ody  when  \  on  shall  need  i(.      If  yt»u  •;  ake  it 
till)    familiar,    it    will    w  )rk     .  ■    extraordinary    effect 
,\  hen  sickness  comet h.      I  commend  rather  some  diet- 
lor   certain    seasons,    than    frequent    u^e    of    physic,  m 
e\cept  it  be  grown  into  a  custom;  foi"    those   vliets 
liter  the  body  mor(>  and  trouble  it  less.     J)es|)ise  no 
new  accident °  in  your  body,  but  ask  opinion  of  it. 
hi  sickness  resj)ect°  health  ptinci})ally,  and  in  health 
action°;    for  tho.se  that   put^  their  bodies  to  endui'uo 
in  health  may,  in  most  sicknesses  which  iwv  not  very 
siiar-,).  be  cured  only  with  diet  and  temleriiig.^     Cel- 
sus"  could  never  have  spoken  it  as  a  physician  had  he 
not  been  a  wise  man  withal,  when  he  «iivelh  it  for  one 
of  the  great  precepts  of  health  and  lasting  that  a  man  !.•.-> 
do  vary  and  interchange  contraries;  but  with  an  in- 
clination  to  the  more  benign  extrem(».      Use  fastmg 
and  full  eating,  but  rather  full  eating;  watching  aua 
-leep,    but    rather    sleep;   sitting    and   exercise,   but 
rather   exercise;  and   the  like.     So  shall  nature  be;iu 


*»; 


114     KssAYs  Oh'  <orxsi:LS  civil  and  moral 

c'hcrisliod,  and  yet  taii,u;lil  nui8tories.°  I'liysicians 
arc  .some  of  them  so  pleasing^  and  conformable  to 
the  humour  of  the  patient,  as  they  press  not  the  true 
ciuv  of  the  disease:    and  some  other  are  so  re«iuhir  in 

r.  proceed in.tij  accordin*;-  to  art""  for  the  disease,  as  tliey 
resi)ect  not  sulficiently  tiie  condition  of  the  {)atient. 
Take  on(>  of  a  niid<lle  temper,  or  if  it  may  not  be 
foimd  in  one  man.  combine  two  of  either  sort;  and 
forjret    not  to  call  as  \v(^ll  the  best  accjuainted  with 

10  your  body  as  the  best  rejnited  of  for  his  faculty. 


XXXI.    OF    SUSPICION 

Suspicions  amongst  thoughts  are  like  bats  amongst 
birds.  —  they  ever  Hy  by  twilight.  (Vrtainly  they 
are  to  be  repressed,  or.  at  the  least,  well  guarded^; 
f'.f  they  cloud  the  mind,  they  lose  friends,  and  they 

irn'lieck°  with  business,  whereby  business  cannot  go 
on  currently''  and  constantly;  they  dispose  kings  to 
tyranny,  husbands  to  jealousy,  wise  men  to  irresolu- 
tion and  melancholy.  They  are  defects  not  in  the 
h(>art,°  but   in  the  brain,  for  they  take  place  in  the 

•JO stoutest °  natures;  as  in  the  example  of  Henry  VIl. 
of  Kngland.  —  there  w;is  not  a  more  suspicious  man 
nor  a  mon^  stout.  And  in  such  a  com])osition°  they 
do  small  hurt,  for  commonly  they  are  not  admitteil 
but  witii  examination,  whether  (hey  be  likely  or  no; 

25 but  in  fearful  natures  th(\v  gain  ground  too  fast. 
There  is  nothing  makes  a  man  suspect  much,  more 


]':SSA  YS    ()Ji   CO 


cySKLS   CI  ML    AM>   MOliAL      IIT) 


iliau 


(M 


vHoW 


little:  and.  tlicrcforc.  men  should  ivni- 
Iv  suspicion  by  procurinji  to  know   more   tiiid    not 


to  !• 


to  keop   tiu'ir  suspicions   m   si 


no 


tlicr 


W 


Kit     WOU 


Id 


men 


l!'ivo°?     1)<»  tlicv  think  tlmsc  they  eini)loy  and 


ileal  with  are  sam 
have  tlieir  own  imu 


ts?     Do  they  not   think  they  will 
Is.  and  he  truer  to  tluMiiselves  than 


to  tliein?  Therefore  there  is  no  better  way  to  mod- 
erate susjncions  tiian  to  account  upon  such  susj)-- 
cions  as  true,  and  yet  to  bridle  them  as  false;  for  so 
far  a  man  ou^ht  to  make  use  of  suspicions,  as  to  pro- 


10 

vide  as  if  that  shoukl  l)e  true  that  he  suspects,  yet  it 
may  do  him  no  hurt. 

Suspicions  that  the  •  lind  of  itself  gathers  are  but 
buzzes°;     but    su>i)icions    that    are   artilicially    nour- 
ished, and  put  into  men's  heads  by  the  tales  and  whis-  ir. 
perings  of  others,  hav(>  stin«is.     Certainly,   the  best 
m(>an  to  clear  the  way  in  this  same  wood  of  suspicions, 
is  frankly  to  communicate  them  with  the  party  that 
lie°  suspects;    for  thereby  he  shall  i)e  sure  to  know 
more  v)f  the  truth  of  them  than  he  did  b(>fore.  and -Jo 
withal  shall  make  that   party  more  (•ircumsi)ect   not 
to  give  further  cause  of  sus|)icion.      Hut   this  \vould° 
not  be  done  to  men  of  base  natures;   for  they,  if  they 
find  themselves  once  susj)ected,  will   never  be  true. 
The    Italian   says,     "Sosp(>tto°   licencia   fede,"    as   if-r. 
suspicion  did  give  a  passport   to  faith  ;    but  it  ought 
rather  to  kindle  it  to  discharge  itself. 


IIG      J-.'SSAYS   on   corXSKLS   CIVIL   AN  J/    MO  HAL 


XXXII.     OF   DISCOURSE 


SoMK  in  th(>ir  discourse  dosin^  rather  commendii- 

ts,  tlian 


tion  of  wit,  in  boins  able  to  hold  all 


arjiun 


lonts 


of  jud<i;mont  in  disrcrtiin^-  what  is  tni(>;  as  if  it  wore 
a  praise  to  know  what  niijijht  be  said,°  and  not  what 
'isliouid  be  thon,i!:ht.  Some  have  certain  eonirnon- 
plares  aiul  th(>nies°  wherein  they  are  ^ood,  and  want 
variety;  whieh  kind  of  poverty  is  for  the  most  j)ar( 
tedious,  and.  when  it  is  once  jxTceived,  ridiculous. 
The  honourablest   part  of  talk  is  to  j»:ive  the  occa- 

lOsion,  and  again  to  moderate. °  and  pass  to  somewhat 
else:  for  then  a  man  leads  the  dance. °  It  is  good  in 
discoiu'se  and  speech  of  conversation  to  vary  and 
intermingle"  speech  of  the  j)resent  occasion  with 
arguments,   tales  with   reasons,   asking  of  questions 

1.-.  with  telling  of  ()j)inions,  and  jest  with  (\arnest ;  for  ii 
is  a  dull  thing  to  tire,  and,  as  we  say  now,  to  jade° 
anything  too  far.  As  for  jest,  there  bo  cM'tain  things 
which  ought  to  be  privileged"  from  it ;  namely,  reli- 
gion,   matters    of   state,    great    jxTsons,    any    man'> 

L'ojircsent  business  of  importance,  and  any  case  that 
deserveth  ])ity.°  ^'et  there  be  some  that  think  tfieir 
wits  have  been  asle(>p.  except  they  dart  out  some- 
what that  is  piquant  and  to  the  quick.  That  is  a 
vein  which  W(»uld°  b(^  bridled: 


97, 


'•  I'arrc.'^'  piUT,  stimulis.  et  fortius  utere  loris." 

And   generally   men   ought    to   hnd    the  difference 
between  saltness^  and  l)itterness.     Certainly,  he  that 


ESSAYS   OK   rOl'XSKLS    (  IVIL    AM>    MfjRAL      117 


h;itli  a  sajirical  voin,  as  lie  makctli  otliors  afrai<i  of 
W\<  wit.  so  he  had  need  1)(>  afraid  of  others'  jncmorv. 

Ho  tliat  (^lU'stioncth  much  shall  learn  inuoh  and 
(M!it(Mit°  much;  hut  especially  if  he  apj)ly  his  ques- 
iioiis  t(^  the  skill°  of  the  persons  wliom  he  asketh.r. 
I'or  he  shall  jiive  them  occasion  to  please^  themselves 
in  speaking,  and  himself  shall  continually  gather 
ki!ovvledo:e.  But  let  his  (piestions  Jiot  he  trouble- 
some, for  that  is  fit  for  a  pos(M'.*^  And  let  him  be 
sure  to  leave  other  men  their  turns  to  speak.  Nay.Kt 
if  there  be  any  that  would  reign,  and  take  up  all  the 
time,  let  him  find  means  to  take  them  off  and  bring 
others  on:  as  musicians  use  to  do  with  those  that 
(iaiice  too      ng  galliards.^ 

If  you   dissemble°  sometimes   your   knowledge  of  i.^ 
ihat  you  are  thought  to  know,  you  shall  be  thought 
another  time  to  know  that  you  know  not. 

Sju'ech  oi°  a  num's  self  ought  to  be  seldom,  and  well 
rliosen.  1  knew  one  was  wo!it  to  say  in  scorn,  '*  Me 
must  needs  be  a  wise  man,  he  speaks  so  much  of  him- jo 
s(^lf."  And  there  is  but  one  cas(>  wherein  a  man  may 
commend  himself  with  good  grace,  and  that  is  in 
conHnending  virtue  in  another,  especially  if  it  be  such 
a  virtue  whereunto  himself  [)reiendeth. 

Sp{>ech  of  touch°  towards  others  should  be  spar- _>.'■. 
ingly  used  ;  for  discourse  ought  to  be  as  a  field,  without 
coming  hom<'  to  any  man.  1  knew  two  noblemen  of 
the  west  part  of  luigland,  whereof  the  one  was  given 
to  scoti',  but  kept  ever  royal  cheer  in  his  house;  the 
other  would  ask  of  those  that  had  been  at  the  other's ;j(1 


118      ESSAYS   OR   COUNSELS   CIVIL   A  XL    MORAL 

table,  "Toll  truly,  was  \hovv  nover  a  flout  or  (lr\ 
hlo\v°  given?''  To  which  the  guest  would  answer, 
sueh  and  such  a  thing  passed.  The  lord  would  say 
"  1  thought  he  would  mar  a  g<*od  tlinner." 
5  Diseretio!!  oi"  sjkhm'Ii  is  more  th' :i  eloquence,  and 
to  speak  agreeal)ly°  to  him  with  whom  we  deal  is 
more  than  to  sju^ak  in  good  words  or  in  good  order. 
A  good  continuc'd  s|)eecli,°  without  a  good  speech  of 
interlocution,  shows  slownc^ss;    and  a  good  reply,  or 

losecond  speech,  without'a  good  settled  speech,  show- 
eth  shallownes.s  and  weakness.  As  we  see  in  beasts, 
that  those  that  are  weakest  in  the  course  are  yet 
nimblest  in  the  turn,  as  it  is  betwixt  the  greyhound 
and  th(^  hare.     To  use  too  many  circumstances®  ere 

15  one  come  to  the  matter,  is  wearisome;  to  use  none  at 
all,  is  blunt. 


XXXIII.     OF    PLANTATIONS 

Pl.\xtati().\s°  are  amongst  ancient,  primitive,  and 
heroical  works.  When  tlu^  world  was  young  it  begat 
more  children,  but  now  it  is  old  it  begets  fewer;    for 

2()  I  may  justly  account  new  plantations  to  be  the  chil- 
dren of  former  kingdoms. 

I  like  a  i)lantation  in  a  ptu'e  s  I,  —  that  is,  where 
people  are  no!  (lisplantcd  to  the  end  to  plant  in  others; 
for  else  it  is  rather  an  extirpation  than  a  plantation. 

'-'r»      Planting  of  countries  is  like  jilanting  of  woods,  for 
you  must  make  account  to  lose  almost  twenty  years' 


^» 


ESSAYS   OH  COL'XSKLS   CIVIL    A\I>    MnRM.      UU 

profit,  and  (>\|U'('!  your  roconiiK'iisc  'ii  the  ciid;  for 
the  i)rineipal  thiiiji'  that  liatii  1)(>(Mi  tlio  tli'structi'Mi  of 
iMost  plantations  hatli  Ixhmi  the  l)as('  and  hasty  (h'aw- 
liio-  of  pr()fit°  in  tlio  first  years.  It  is  truo,  spocdy 
piolit  is  not  to  Ix'  nc.ulcctcd.  as  far  as  may  stand  witli  j 
ihc  ^'ood  of  the  plantation,  hut  no  further. 

it  is  a  shameful  and  unblessed  ihin,i^  to  take  the 
scum  of  jieople,  and  wieked  condenmed  men,  to  l)e 
the  i)eople  with  whom  you  i)lant;  and  not  only  so, 
hut  it  spoik'th  the  plantation:  for  they  will  ever  lo 
live  like  ro^iues,  and  not  fall  to  work,  hut  l)e  lazy, 
and  do  misehief,  and  s|)end  vietuals,  and  he  (juickly 
weary,  and  then  certify"  over  to  their  country  to  the 
(Uscredit  of  the  i)lantation.  The  peoi)le  wherewnh 
vou  plant  ou«;ht  to  he  ••ardeners,  ploughmen,  lahour- 15 
CIS.  smiths,  car|)enters,  joinei-s,  ii-^hermen,  fowh>rs, 
with   some    few    apothecaries,    suriieons,    cooks,    and 

hakers. 

In  a  country  of  i)lantation,  first  look  ahout  what 
kind  of  victual  the  country  yields  of  itself^  to  hand  :•_'() 
as    chestnuts,    walnuts,    })in(>-apples,    olive><,    dates, 
phuus,  cherries,  wild  honey,  and  tiu^  like;  atul  make 
use  of  them.     Then  considtM-  what  victual  or  cM'ulent ' 
thinjis  there  are,  which  j^row  speedily  and  wiihin  the 
year:    as   parsnii)s,   carrots,    iurnii)s,   onions,   radish,  lm 
artichokes  of  Jerusalem,  maize, °  and  the  like.     For 
wheat,  l)arley,  and  oats,  tliey  ask  too  much  labour; 
hut  with  pease  and  beans  ^o'l  may  he^in,  both  be- 
cause they  ask  less  labour,  and  because    they    serve 
lor  meat  as  well  as  for  bread.     And  of  rice  likewise  i-^i 


120      KSSWS   on   (  OIXSHLS   CIVIL    AX  It    MnliAh 


comcth  a  jxretit  increase,  and  it  is  a  kind  of  meat. 
Above  all.  there  ought  to  be  broniiht  store  of  bisruit. 
oatmeal,  Hour,  meal,  and  the  like,  in  the  beginnini'. 
till  bread  may  be  had.  for  beasts  or  birds,  take 
sehietly  such  as  are  least  subject  to  diseases  and  mul 
ti})ly  fastest  :  as  swine,  goats,  cocks,  hens,  turkeys, 
geese,  house-doves,  and  the  like. 

The  victual  in  jilant  lit  ions  ought  to  be  expended 
almost  as  in  a  besiegetl  town,  —  that  is,  with  cei'taiii" 

:">  allowance.  And  let  the  main  part  of  the  ground 
employed  to  gardens  or  corn  be  to  a  common  stock, 
and  to  be  laid  in  and  stored  up,  and  then  deli\- 
ered  out  in  proportion;  besides  come  spots  of  ground 
that  any  particular  [)erson  will  manure®  for  his  own 

l.5private.° 

Consiiler  likewise  what  commodities  the  soil  where 
the  plantation  is  doth  naturally  yield,  that  they  mav 
some  way  helj)  to  defray  the  charge  of  the  i)lantation . 
so  it  l)e  not,  as  was  said,  to  the  untimely  prejudifc 

2(»of  the  main  business,  as  it  hath  fared  with  tobacco 
in  Virginia. °  Wood  connnonly  aboundeth  })ut  too 
m  ''.  and  therefore  timber  is  fit  to  be  one.°  It 
thei't  »e  iron  ore,  and  streams  whereupon  to  >et  tiic 
mills,  iron  is  a  brave°  commodity  where  wood  abound- 

25eth.  Making  of  bay-salt,  if  the  climate  b(»  proper 
for  it,  would°  be  put  in  exfvrience.  Orowing  silk"^ 
likewise,  if  any  be,  is  a  lik(>ly  connnodity.  Fitch 
and  tar,  where  store  of  firs  and  pines  are,  will  not  <"ail. 
So  drugs  and  sweet  woods,  where  they  are.  cannot 

30 but  yield  great  profit ;■  soap-ashes,  likewise,  and  other 


KSSAYS   OR   an'ySELS   CIVIL   Ay  It   MORAL      IL'I 


thinjis  that  !n:iy  l)0  thought  of.  But  nioiP  not  too 
much  under  «i;roun(l,  for  tlio  liopo  of  mines  is  very 
nii('(>rtMin.  and  usoth  to  nuke  tlie  planters  lazy  in 
other  tiiin,u:s. 

For  jrovernnient,  let  it  he  in  tiie  hands  of  one,  5 
;issist(Hl  with  some  counsel;  atid  let  thorn  have  com- 
mission to  e.\(Tcise  martial  laws,  with  some  limita- 
tion. And  above  all,  let  uvm  make  that  jn'otit  of 
lieino;  in  the  wilderness,  as  they  have  (iod  always  and 
his  service  before  their  eyes.  Let  not  the  govern- 10 
ment  of  the  i)lantation  (lei)end  upon  too  many  (oun- 
scllors  and  undertakers°  in  the  country  +hat  planteth, 
l.ut  upon  a  temperate  mmiber ;  and  let  those  be 
rather  nobleme!i  and  sf'ntlemen  than  merchants; 
for  they  look  ever  to  the  jiresent  .nain.  i"» 

Let  there  be  freed'Miis  from  custom°  till  the  planta- 
tion he  of  str(>nsth;  and  not  only  freed')m  from  cus- 
tom, but  freedom  to  carry  their  commodities  where 
they  may  make  their  best  of  them,°  except  there  ))e 
>om(>  s{)ecial  cause  of  caution.  '-'" 

Cram  not  in  peopk^  by  s(M\dini2;  too  fast  company 
.(ftcr  company,  but  rather  h(virk(Mi  how  they  waste," 
-nd  sella  sup]ili(>s  projx»rtional>ly  ;  but  so  as  the 
number  may  liv(^  well  in  the  plantation,  and  not  by 
-urcharge°  be  in  penury.  -•"' 

It  hath  been  a  great  endangering  to  the  health  of 
some  plantations  that  they  have  built  along  the  sea 
:uid  rivers,  in  marish°  and  unwholesome  grounds. 
rii(>r(^fore.  though  you  begin  there  to  avoid  carriage 
and  other  like  discommodities,,  yet  build  still°  rather ;«) 


121'      ASSAYS   OK   (orXSKLS   CIVIL   AM)   MORAL 

upwards  from  tlio  st roams  than  along.  It  concerneth 
likowise  the  hoaltii  of  tho  })lantati()n  that  they  have 
good  store  of  salt  with  them,  that  they  may  use  it  in 
their  victuals  when  it  shall  be  necessary. 
">  If  you  plant  where  savages  are,  do  not  only  enter- 
tain them  with  trifles  and  gingles,°  Init  use  them 
justly  and  graciously,  with  sufHcient  guard,  never- 
theless; and  do  not  win  their  favour  by  helj)ing  them 
to  invade  their  enemies,  but  for  their  defence  it  is  not 

10 amiss. °  And  send  oft  of  them  'ncr  to  the  country 
that  |)lants,  that  they  may  see  a  better  condition 
than  their  own,  and  commend  it  when  they  return. 

When  the  plantation  grows  to  strength,  then  it  is 
time  to  plant  with  women  as  well  as  with  men,  that 

15  the  plantation  may  spread  into  generations,  and  not 
be  ever  pieced  from  without.  It  is  the  sinfullest 
thmg  in  the  world  to  forsake  or  destitute"  a  planta- 
tion once  in  forwardness;  for,  besides  the  dishonour, 
it  is  the  guiltiness  of  blood  of  many  eommiserable° 

20i:Tsons. 

XXXIV.     OF   RICHES 


I  CANNOT  call  riches  better  than  the  baggage  of 
virtue.  The  Roman  word  is  better,  "impedimenta,"" 
for  as  the  baggage  is  to  an  arm>'  so  is  I'iches  to  virtue. 
It  cannot  be  spared,  nor  left  behind,  but  it  hindereth 
23  the  march;  yea,  and  the  care  of  it  sometimes  loseth 
or  dinturlxMh  the  victory. 

Of  great  riches  there  is  no  real  use,  except  it  be  iu 


ASSAYS   OK   cnrXShLS   CIVIL   AM)   MOh'AL      iL'.'i 


:^M 


tlic  (iistributioii;  tlic  rest    is  Imt  coiu'cit."     So  saith 
Solomon, °  "  Wlicn^  iinicli  is,  ihcrc  arc  many  to  coii- 
suiiie  it;   atul  what  hath  tlic  owner  l)ut  tlu.'  si<iiit  ol  it 
with  his  eyes?"     Tlio  personal  fruition  in  any  man 
cannot  roaeli  to  fool  j^roat  riohos^;    tlion*  is  a  custody.' 
of  them,  or  a  power  of  dole  atid  donati\e  of  them,  or 
a  fame  of  them,  but  no  solid  use  to  the  owuer.     Do 
you  not  sec  what  feigned "^  jH'ices  are  set  U])on  little 
stones  and  rarities?     And  what  works  of  ostentation 
are   undcrtakcii,    because'^   there   miglit   seem   to   be  K 
some  use  of  great  riches?     Jiut  then,  you  will  say, 
they  may  be  of  use  to  buy  men  out  of  dangers  or 
troubles.     As  Solomon"  saith,  "  Uiches  are  as  a  strong- 
hokl  in  the  imagination  of  the  rich  man."     But  this 
is  excelk'!iily  exj)ressed,   that   it   is   in   imagination,  15 
and  not  always  in  fact.     Tor  certainly  great  riches 
have  sold  more  men  than  they  have  bought  out. 

Seek  not  proud  riches, °  but  such  as  thou  mayest 
get  justly,  use  S()l)erl  ,  distribute  cheerfully,  and 
l(\ive  contentedly,  ^'et  ha\'(^  no  abstract  nor  fri-20 
arly  contempt  of  them;  but  distinguish,  as  Cicero° 
saith  well  of  Rabirius  Posthumas,°  "in  studio*^  rei 
amplificandip  apparebat,  non  avaritiie  prtedam,  sed 
instriunentum  bonitati  (pueri."  Hearken  also  to 
Solomon, °  and  beware  of  hasty  gathering  of  riches :2."i 
"(^ui  festinat°  ad  divitas,  non  erit  insons."  The 
})()cts  feign  that  when  PIutus,°  wOiich  is  riches,  is 
sent  from  Jupiter,°  he  limps,  and  goes  slowly,  but 
when  he  is  sent  from  Pluto, °  he  runs,  and  is  swift  of 
foot;  meaning,  that  riches  gotten  by  good  means  30 


124       HSSAYS    on   '(,1  SSKI.S   IH'IL    JXli    MOli.XL 


and  just  lal)()ur  pace  slowly,  but  when  they  conic  by 
the  tleath  of  others,  ns  by  the  eourse  of  inheritance, 
testaments,  and  the  like,  they  eonie  tuinblin<5  upon  a 
man.  But  it  ni()U<!;ht  be  applied  likewise  to  Pluto, 
staking  him  for  the  devil.  For  when  riches  come 
from  tlie  devil,  as  by  fraud,  and  oppression,  and 
unjust  means,  they  come  upt)n  speed. '^ 

The  ways  to  emich  are  many,  and  most  of  them 
foul.     Parsimony  is  oee  of   the  best,  and  yet  is  not 

10  innocent,  for  it  withholdeth  men  from  woiks  of  liber- 
ality and  charity.  The  imjM'ovenient  of  the  ground 
is  the  most  naturni  obtaining  of  riches,  for  it  is  our 
great  mother's  l)lessing,  the  earth's;  but  it  is  slow. 
And  yet,  where  men  of  gn^at  wealth  do  stoop  to  hiis- 

isbandry,  it  multiplieth  riches  exceedingly.  1  knew 
a  nobleman  in  Kngland  tliat  had  the  greatest  audits 
of  any  man°  in  my  titne:  a  great  grazier,  a  great 
sheep-master,  a  great  timber-man,  a  gi'eat  collier, 
a  great  corn-master,  a  great  lead-man,  and  so  of  iron, 

20 and  a  number  of  the  like  points  of  husbandry;  so  as 
the  earth  seemed  a  sea  to  him,  in  respect  of  the  per- 
petual importation.  It  was  truly  observed  by  one, 
that  himself  came  very  hardly  to  a  little  riches,  and 
very  easily  to  great  riches,     l^'or  when  a  man's  stock" 

25  is  come  to  that,  that  he  can  expect  the  prime  of  mar- 
kets, and  overcome"  those  bargains  which,  for  their 
greatness,  are  few  men's  money,  and  be  partner  in 
the  industries  of  younger  men,  he  cannot  but  increase 
mainly.  ° 

30     The   gains   (»f  onlinarv    trades   and   vocations  are 


KSSAYS   OR   rorXSKLS   i'lVIL    .l.V/<    MORAL      12.") 


holiest,  and  furtliorod  hv  two  thiii,iz;.s  cliiofly,  by  dili- 
gence, and  by  a  jrood  iiaiiio  for  jjood  and  fair  doalin;<i. 
lint  the  ^ains  (tf  bar;:;ains  are  of  a  more  doul)tful 
nature,  when  men  sliall  wait  Uj)on  otliers'  necessity; 
i)n)ke°  l)y  servants  and  instruments  to  (h'aw  thems 
oii;  put  off  others  cuiminirly  tliat  would  be  b(»tter 
(•hapmen°;  and  the  like  practices,  whicli  are  crafty 
;nid  nau'!;ht.°  As  for  the  clioppinj;  of  bargains, — 
when  a  man  buys,  not  to  hold,  but  to  s(»ll  over  again, 

that  commonly  orindeth  double*,  both  upon  the  ic 
seller  and  upon  the  })uyer.°  Sharings  do  p;reatly  en- 
rich, if  the  hands  be  well  chosen  that  are  trusted. 
rsury°  is  the  certainest  means  of  gain,  though  one  of 
ihe  worse,  as  that  whereby  a  man  doth  eat  his  bread 
'•  in  sudore°  vultus  alieni,"  and  beside.',  doth  plough  in 
upon  Sundays.  But  yet,  certain  though  it  \\v,  it 
hath  flaws;  for  that  the  scriveners  and  brokers^  do 
\alue°  unsound  men.  to  serve  their  own  turn. 

The  fortune  in  being  the  first  in  an  invention, °  or 
in  a  privilege,  doth  cause*  sometime*-'  a  wonderful  20 
overgrowth  in  riches,  as  it  was  with  the  first  sugar- 
man  in  the  Canaries. °  Therefore,  if  a  man  can  play 
the  true  logician. °  to  have  as  well  judgment  as  inven- 
tion, he  may  do  great  matters.  es])ecially  if  the  times 
he  fit.  He  that  resteth  u]ion  gains  certain,  shall 2ri 
hardly  grow  to  great  riches:  and  he  that  puts  all 
upon  adventures,  doth  oft(Mitimes  l)reak.  and  come 
to  poverty:  it  is  good  therefore  to  guanP  adventures 
with  certainties  thai  may  uphold  losses.     Monopolies, 


ud 


cue 


mpt 


lOI 


i"  of  wares  for  resale,  where  the\-  areM 


.^?f^-ff,j'- 


12(5      KSSAYS   on   COCXSKLS    dVIL    AX  ft    MORAL 

not  restrained,  are  ^reat  means  to  enricli:  esperially 
if  the  party  have  intelli;:;ence  wliat  thin<;s  are  like  to 
come  into  re(|iiest.  and  to  store  himself  l)eff)rehan(l. 
Kiches  <!;otten  hv  service,  though  it  Ix^  of  the  best  rise. 
5yet  when  they  are<i;ot>en  hy  flattery,  fecMJin,!?  humours. 
an<l  other  servile  conditions,  they  may  he  placed 
amoniist  the  worst.  As  for  fishini!;  for  testaments 
and  executorships  (as  Tacitus°  saith  of  Seneca. 
"Testanienta°  et  orhos  tan(|ua!n  indaj^ine  capi").  it 

10  is  yel  worse;  by  how  much  men  submit  themselves 
to  meaner  persons  than  in  service. 

Believe  not  much  tluMii  that  ^ovni  to  despise  riches, 
for  they  d(\spise  them  that  despair  of  them;  and  none 
worse°  when  they  come  to  them.     He  not  peimy-wis(>: 

1.-)  riches  have  win«;s.°  and  sometimes  thev  Hy  away  of 
themselves,  sometimes  they  must  be  set  flying  to 
bring  in  more. 

Men  leave  their  rich(>s  either  to  tlieir  kindred,  or 
to  the  |)ublic;  and  moderate  portions  j)rosj)er  Ix^st  in 

'Joboth.  A  great  estate  l(>ft  to  an  heir  is  as  a  lure  to  all 
the  birds  of  pu-y  round  about  to  seize  on  Iiim,  if  he 
be  not  the  l)ett(>r°  stablished  m  years  and  judgmeiU. 
Likewise  glorious°  gifts  and  foundations  are  lik(>  sac- 
rifices without  salt;  and  but   the  painted  sepulchres 

25  of  alms,  which  soon  will  jnitrefy  and  corrupt  inwardly. 
Therefore  measure  not  thine  advancements  In-  quan- 
tity, but  frame  them  by  measure."  And  defer  not 
charities  till  death°;  for  certainly,  if  a  man  weigh  it 
rightly,  he  that  doth  so,  is  rather  Uberal  of  another 

.•:ii  itKUi's  than  of  his  own. 


•WIW 


KSSAYS   OK   rOlXSFl.S   <IVII.    .\M>   MOHM.      V27 


XXXV.     Ol     IMIOIMIIXIKS 

1   MKAX  not   to  spoak  of  diviiio  |)roi)lu'('i('S,  noi 


of 


prop 


^  r  natural  pnnlictions.^  Init  only 

hofk's  that  have  been  of  certain  memory  and 


licatlien  oracles,  nor  o 


iioni 
Saul, 

iiie." 


10 


IB 


hidden     causes.     Saith     the     I'ythonissa"     to 
"To-morrow  thou  and  thy  son  shall  bo  with:. 
lIomer°  hath  these  verses: 

"  At  ilouius-'  .KiH'iL'  t'Uiu'tis  (ioniinat)itnr  <>ris, 
Et  nati  luUoiuin,  v\  tiui  nascfutur  at>  illis  :" 

a    prophecy,    as    it    s(>ems.    of    the    Roman    Kmpire. 
Seneca,°  the  tra«,^edi;  n.  hath  these  v(>rses: 

»•  \  eiiicnt  aiinis'^ 

Secula  si'vi"*.  (luilms  occanus 

ViiK'ula  voruiu  laxet,  ft  iiiiro-ns 

Tatt-at  ifllus,  Tipliysciiu'  iiovos 

Detftrat  orl)fs  ;  lu'i-  sit  terris 

I'ltiuia  'riuile  :  " 

,    proi)hocv    of    the    discovery    of    America.     The 
ilaushter     of     Folvcrates^     dreamed     that     Jui)itpr° 
bathed   hor   father,  and   Ai)()llo°  anointed   Inm:  and 
it    came   to   pass   tliat    he  was  crucified   in   an   ope.rj. 
place   where  the  sun  matle   liis  body  nm  with  sweat, 
and  the  rain  washed  it.     Philii)  of  Macedon  dreamed 
lie  sealed  up  his  wife's  belly,  whcnvby  he  did  expouiul 
it  that  his  wife  should  be  barren;    but   Aristander° 
the  soothsaver   told   him  his  wife   was  with   child, -3 
Ix'catise  men  do  not  use  to  seal  vessels  that  are  empty. 
\  ph'intasm°  that   appeared  to  M.   Brutus,°  in  his 


"i-SK.v; 


ll'S     Kss.iYs  (ii:  cnrxsKi.s  civil  axu  MniiM. 

tent,  sjiid  lo  liim.  "  I'hilippis'^  iloruiu  inc  vidcl)!-. "' 
Til)orhis°  snid  lo  (Jalh;!/^  '•  Tu  (luociu,'."  (;.m1});i. 
do^ustnbis  inipcriiini. "'  In  W-spasian's'  finio  thoiv 
wont  a  proph(-cy  in  the  Kast.  that  rl)()S(«  that  sIionM 
Scomo  forth  of  Jndoa  should  roiirn  over  tfio  world: 
which.  thon<ih  it  may  ho  was  nioant  of  our  Saviour, 
yot  Taoitus°  expounds  it  of  Vospasian.  Doniitian'^ 
droamod,  tlio  ni<iht  h(>foro  he  was  slain,  that  a  ^oldon 
luvid  was  o-rowin^-  r.ut  of  the  nap(>  of  liis  nock;    and 

10  indeed   the  succession   that   followed    him   for   many 
years  made  golden   times.     Menry   \'I.°  of   l-jio-lanil 
«aid  of  Henry  VII.,  when  he  was  a  lad,  and  gave  hin 
water.   -This  is  the  lad  that  shall  enjov  tiie  crown 
for   which    wo   strive."     When    I    was'  in    France,    1 

15 heard  from  one  Dr.  IVna  that  the  (iu(on-moth(>r. 
wh(j  was  given  to  curious  ai'ts,  caused  the  king  her 
husband's  nativity  to  he  calculated  under  a  false 
name,  and  the  astrologer  gave  a  judgm(>nt  that  he 
should  1)0  killed  in  a  duel :  at  which  the  (jueen  laughed. 

-'<»  thinking  her  hushand  to  bo  al>ovo  chaUengos  and  tluols  • 
but  he  was  slain°  upon  a  course  at  tilt,  the  splinters 
of  the  staff  of  Montgomery  going  in  at  his  beaver/' 
The  trivial"  {)roj>lK>cy  which  I  heard  when  1  was  a 
child,  and  (^i(>on  Kli^abelh  was  in  the  ilower  of  her 
■-'■>  Ncars,  was : 

"When  Ilcmpe  is  s[)oniie, 
Kimland's  clone  ; '" 

whereby  it  was  gen(>rally  conceived  that,  after  the 

princes  had  reigned  which  had  the  principal  letters 

3uof  that  word  lumpe  (which  were   Henrv,    lulward, 


wwiaMl 


ESSAYS   on   (ill  XSKI.S   VIVIL   AXD   MORAL      129 


Marv.   I'hilii).  and    l-ilizalx'th).   I'.iiulaiul  sl.ould  como 

,lii('li,  thanks  ho  to  (Icnl.  is  vcri- 


lo  I 


iticr  confusion:  w 


!ic<l  onlv  in  th(»  chantic  oi"  tlu>  nanic,  for  that  tho  kinji's 
)\v  no  more  of  Knuland,  'out  of  Britain, 
also  another  i)roi)h(M'v  boforo  tho  yoar  of 5 


-tvlo^   IS  n( 


horo  was 


cU 


tihtv-oisiht .  which  i  <lo  not  W(>I1  undorstand 


was  \n 


'•'riiLTi-  shall  W  >vvn  \\\M\\  ;i  day. 
lU'tWfcn  the  Hiuiiili  ami  the  May," 
Tiie  t)laf'k  tiei't  of  N'orway 
WIkmi  that  is  cihir'  aiul  -oiif. 
Kiij;lainl,  htiihl  lumsi's  of  lliiu'  ami  .stone, 
For  after  wai's  shall  yoii  have  iioiu'  "' 

'norallv  concoivod  to  ho  nu^ant  of  tho  Spanial 


10 


fi(>ot    that    caiiio    in    oi,iilitv-oi,ii;ht  ;  for  tliat    tho  King 


of  Sjiain's  surnaiiio. 


as  tho\    say,  is   Norway.     The  if 


predict i(»n  of  I^o^ioniojitaniis, 

'•Octogfsinms'  octavus  mirabili.s  annus," 

thou'clit    hkowiso   acconinlishod    in    tho  sending 


was 


)f  that  groat  Hoot,  hoing  tlio  groatost  in  strongth, 
though  not  in  nnnihor.  of  all  that  ovor  swam  upon 
iho  soa.  As  for  Cloon's"^  droaui,  1  think  it  was  a 
K'.-;  :    il  was  that   ho  was  dovourod  of  a  long  dragon; 


20 


aiK 


1  it    was  oxpotnidod  of  a  niakor  of  sausages 
ihk 


irouh[o( 


that 
him  (  xcoodingly.     Thoro  aro  numhors  of  tho 
iko    kind.    (>s])ocially    if    you    includo    dn^ams    and 25 
!>!vdi('l!ons    of    -strology.        Hut     I    liavo    sot    down 
thoso  fow  otily.  of  certain  credit,  for  example. 

My  judgment  is  that  thoy  ouglit  all  to  ho  do.spised, 
and  ouu:hl    to  soi  \o  hut    foi-  winter  talk  hy  the  fire- 


loO     ESSAYS   on   (01  XSKLS   CIVIL   AND  MORAL 

si(l(\     Thoutrh  \vh(Mi  I  say  despised,  I  moan  it  as  for 
l)olief;    for  otlionvisi^  tlic  s{)r(>adiM<>-  or  j)ul)lisliing  of 
them  is  in  no  sort^  to  be  despised,  for  they  have  done 
much  mischief,  and  I  see  many  severe  hiws  made  to 
■) suppress  them.     Tfiat  that  iiatli  <>iven  them  ^race." 
and  some  credit,  consisteth  in   three  tilings.     First, 
that    men    mariv    when    th(\v    hit.°   and    never   mark 
when  they  miss,  as  they  do  generally  also  of  (h'eams. 
The  secojid  is,  that   pr')hahle  conjectures,  or  obscure 
10  iracUtions,  many  times  turn  themselves  into  prophe- 
cies; while  the  natnre  of  man.  which  cov(Heth  (Uvina- 
tion.  thinks  it   no  peril  to  for(>teIl  that  which  indeed 
they  do  but  collect;    as  that  of  Seneca's  verse.     For 
so   much   was   then   subject    to   demonstration,   that 
15  the  «;i()l)(^  of  the  earth  had  <j:reat  |)arts  beyond  the 
Atlantic,  which   mou^ht   be  })robably  conceived  not 
to  be  all  sea;    and  addin<!;  thereto  the  tradition  in 
Plato's°    Tinueus    and    his    Atlanticns.°    it    mou«i;ht 
encourai^e  one  to  turn  it  to  a  prediction.     The  third 
20 and  last,  which  is  the  <ireat  one,  is  that  almost  all  of 
them,  beins  infinite  in  number,  have  been  impostures, 
and  by  idle  and  crafty  brains  merely  contrived  and 
feigned  after  the  e\eut  past. 


XXXVI.     OF    A.ArBITION 

Amritiox  is  like  choler^;  which  is  an  humour°  that 

-'.-.  maketh    man   active,  earnest,   full    of    alacrity,    and 

stirring,  if  it  l)e  not  stoi)ped.     But   if  it  be  stopped, 


■ai 


j-:ssAYs  OR  corysKLS  civil  asd  moral    \'M 

:in(l  cutniot  havo  his  way,  it  hooomotli  adust, °  and 
tlKMvby  inalif!:n  and  venomous.     So  ambitious  mon, 
it  tlu\v  tirid  tlu>  way  opon  for  thoir  risin«i.  and  stilP 
i.(.f   forward,  thoy  aro  rather  i)usy  tiian  (hm.ucrous; 
hut  if  thoy  l)o  chocked  in  tlieir  desires  tiiey  become  : 
s(M-retly  discontent,  and  look  upon  men  and  matters 
with  an  evil  oye.*^  and  an^  best  ))l(>ased  wlien  thinjis 
o-o  backward  ;  whicii  is  the  worst  ])roperty  in  a  s(>rvant 
of  a  prince  or  state.     Therefore  it  is  (jood  for  j)rinc(\s, 
if  they  use  ambitious  men,  to  handle  it  so  as  they  l)eiti 
still  prof;r(\ssivo  and  not   rotro,!2;rade ;  which.  bocaus(^ 
it  cannot  bo  without  inconvonienc(\  it  is  ^ood  not  to 
use  such  natur(\s  ut  all.     For  if  they  rise  not  with  their 
service  they  will  take  order   to°   make   their  service 
fall  with  tiiom,  ^'' 

\\\\\  since  wo  havo  said  it  wore  ^ood  not  to  use 
men  of  ambitious  natures,  o\co|)t  it  be  Uj)on  necessity, 
it  is  fit  we  sj)eak  in  what  cas(\s  they  are  of  n(>cessity. 
(iood  commanders  in  the  wars  must  be  taken,  hv  they 
never  so  ambitious;   for  the  use  of  th(>ir  service  dis-ii. 
pensoth  witli°  the  rest ;   and  to  tak(>  a  soldi(>r  without 
;tml)ition°  is  to  pull  off  his  sjnu-s.^     There  is  also  <j;reat 
use  of  aml)itious  men  in  beiui:;  scr(>ens  to  prmcos  in 
matters  of  dan.ii;or  and  e!ivy ;    for  no  mati  will  take 
that  part  excoi)t  ho  be  like  a  seoled°  dove,  that  mounts -j.' 
and  mounts,  because  he  cannot  see  about  him.     There 
is  use  also  of  ambitioiis  men  in  })uilinji  down  thof::reat- 
noss  of  any  subject  that  overtops;    as  Tiberius"  used 
M;icro°  in  th(>  pullin.u'  down  of  Sejanus.° 

Since,  therefore,  they  must  bo  used  in  such  cases, ;{(; 


m 


i:yj     JCSSAY^   Oh'   (  OLWii/'JLS   tnjL   AND   MORAL 

thoro  n>si(>th°  to  spoak  liow  tlioy  arc  to  he  hridlec 

that  thoy  may  be  loss  dan^oious.     There  is  less  danger 

ot  them  if  they  he  of  ii.(.an  hirth,  than  if  they  be  noble  • 

and  ]f  they  be  rather  harsh  of  nature,  than  graeioii.> 

5 and  j)opnlar;    and  if  they  be  rather  new  raised,  than 

grown  eunning  and  fortified  in  their  ureal ness.     It  i> 

eountcd    by    some    a    weakn(>ss    in    princes    to    hav( 

favourites^:    but  it  is.  of  all  others.  th(>  best  remedy 

against  ambitious  great  ones.     I'or  \\\\vu  tlie  way  (il 

10  pleasuring  and  displeasuring  lieth  by  the  favourite. 

it    U    impossible^    any    other    should    be    over-great. 

Another  means  lo  curb  them  is  to  balanee  them  by 

others  as  proud  as  they.      Hut  then  there  must   be 

some    middle    eounsellors    to    keep    things    steadv; 

ir.for  without  that  ballast  tlie  ship  will  rolftoo  much.' 
At  the  least  a  j^rince  juay  animate  and  inure "^  some 
meaner  persons  to  Imv  as  it  wer<\  scourges  to  ambitious 
men.  As  for  the  having  of  tliem  obn()\ious°  to  ruin,  if 
they   be  of  fearful   natures  it    may  do  well;    but    if 

LfMhey  be  stout  and  daring,  it  ina>-  j)recipitate  their 
designs  and  pro\e  dangerous.'^  .\s  for  the  pulling 
of  them  down,  if  the  affairs  nHpiin"  it.  and  tha"!^ 
it  i:iay  not  be  done  with  safety  sutldenly,  tlie  only 
way  is  I  lie  interchange   continually  of  favours   anil 

'-'.-.disgraces;  whereby  thf>y  may  not  know  what  to 
ox])ect.  and  l)e  as  it  were  in  a  wood. 

Of  ambitions,  it  is  less  harmful  the  ambition  to 
prevail  in  gjvat  things,  than  that  other  to  ai)pear 
in  everything;    for  that   In-eeds  confusion,  and  mar,-^ 

;^<»  business.     But  yet  it  is  less  daiigvr  to  hav(>  an  am- 


KSSAYS    on   ((Jl/XSKJ.S   (  IVlh    ASh    MOIiAL      llV.i 


I  lit  ions  man  stirriiifi  in  biishuss,  ili;i:i  liroat  in  dojuMi- 
iiances.-  Uo  tliat  s(^ok('th  to  he  cmiiuMit  anionjist 
able  ni(Mi  hat h  a  ^Tcat  task;  hut  that  i<  ('V(>r  <:o()<l  fof 
{\\c  public.  But  hr  that  plots  to  in'  the  onl>  ti,i!;nro 
atnoiiiist  ciphci's.  is  the  decay  of  ai!  whole  ajic.  •"' 

Honour  hath  three  thiniis  in  it  :  the  vanta<ie 
ui'ouiul  to  cio  .uood'^ ;  the  approach  to  kiiiirs  and 
t)!incii)al  persons;  and  the  raisin^'  (»i"  a  man's  own 
lortimes.  lit'  that  hath  the  b(>st  of  these  intentions 
when  he  asj)ir(Mh,  is  an  hone^^t  man;  and  that  jH'ince  n 
that  can  discern  of  these  intentions  in  another  that 
aspireth.  is  a  wise  j)rince.  (ienerally,  let  princes  and 
states  choose  such  ministers  as  are  more  sensible 
of'^  duty  than  of  risinji;  and  such  as  love  business 
rather  upon  conscience  than  upon  bravery";  and  let  i.i 
them  discern  a  busy°  nature  from  a  willing  mind. 


XXXVTL     OF    MASC^rKS    AND    TRirMPH!^ 

TiiEsi:  thin<2;s  iire  1  ')ys°  to  come  amon^^st  such 
:-erious  observations.  '  .t  yet,°  .  ;  ce  princes  will 
have  such  things,  it  is  better  they  should  be  graced 
uith  elegancy  than  daubecl  with  cost.°  I'u 

Dancing  to  song  isa  thing  of  great  state  and  i)leasure. 
1  unilerstand  it  that  the  song  be  in  (juire^  placetl 
aloft. "^  and  acconu)anied  with  some  bioken  music^; 
a.'id  th(^  ditty°  htl(>d  to  the  <1(  \  ice.  Acting  in  song, 
especially  in  dialogues,  hath  an  extreme  good  grace:.': 
I  sav  acting,  not  dancing^  (ff)r  that   is  a  mean  and 


1^4      J'JSSAYS   OH   i'OVXSKLS   CIVIL   AND   MORAL 


vulfjar  thiii.i^O;  ;ni(l  tlio  voires  of  tlio  dialogue  woiild^ 
1)0  stronjj^  and  manly  (a  bass  and  a  tenor,  no  treble); 
and  the  ditty  liijih  and  tra«i;ieal,  not  nice  or  dainty. ° 
Several  quires  placed  one  over  apiinst  another,  and 
.")  taking  the  voiee  by  eatehes,°  ant  hem-wise, °  give 
great  pleasure.  Turning  danees  into  figure°  is  a 
ehildish  curiosity.  And  generally  let  it  be  noted  that 
those  things  which  1  here  set  clov.-j  are  such  as  d.. 
naturally  take  the  sense,  and  not  resj)ect  i)etty  won- 

inderments.  It  is  true  the  alterations  of  scenes,  so  it 
be  (juietly  and  without  noise,  are  things  of  great 
K/oauty  and  pleasure;  for  they  feed  and  relieve  the 
(\ve  before  it  be  full  of  the  same  object.  Let  the 
scenes    abound    with    light,    specially    coloured    and 

ir.  varied;  and  let  the  masquers,  or  any  other  that  are 
to  come  down  from  the  scene, "^  have  some  motions'^ 
upon  tlie  scene  itself  before  their  coming  down; 
for  it  draws  the  eye  strangely,  and  makes  it  with 
great  j)leasure  to  desire  to  s(h'°  that  it  cannot  perfectly 

•31  discern.  Let  the  songs  be  loud  and  cheerful,  and 
not  chirpings  or  pulings.°  Let  the  nnisic  likewise 
be  sharj)  and  loud,  and  well  placed.  The  colours 
that  show  l)(>st  by  candle-lig'it  are  white,  carnation, 
and  a  kind  of  sea-water  green;   and  oes,°  or  spangs." 

L'5  as  they  are  of  no  great  cost,  so  they  are  of  most  glory. 
As  for  rich  embroidery,  it  is  lost  and  not  discerned. 
Jwct  the  suits  of  the  masquers  be  graceful  and  such  as 
become  the  person  when  the  vizars  are  off;  not 
after  examples  of  known   attires  —  Turks,  soldiers, 

;'^»  marin(>rs,  and   the  like.     Let  anti-masques°  not  be 


j-:ssAYS  on  cftrxsKi.s  <  ivii.  axd  mohal    l.'»r> 

long  ;    they    have   hcvii    foinnionly    of   fools,   satyrs. 
l)al)oons,  wild  mon,  anticnies.°  boasts.  s|)rit('s,  witches, 
Ktliiopos,  ])i<j:iiiios,  tiir(jUots,°  nynii)lis,  rustics,  ('iii)i(ls. 
statnas°  moving,  and  tlio  like.     As  for  angels,  it  is  not 
comical  enough  to  put  diem  in  anti-mastpies;  and  any-  ". 
tiling  that  is  hideous,  as  devils,  giants,  is  on  the  other 
side  as  unfit.     Hut,  chiefly,  let  the  music  of  llu>ni  he 
recreative,   and   with  some   strange   changes.     Some 
sweet   odours   suddenly    cf)ming    forth.,   without    any 
drops  falling,  are  in  such  a  company  as  there  is  steatn  m 
and  heat,  things  of  great  pleasure  and  refreshment. 
Double  masfiues.  one  of  men,  another  of  ladies,  addeth 
state  and  variety.     But  all  is  nothing  except  th(>  room 
l)e  kept  clear  and  neat. 

For  justs, °  and  tourneys,"  and  barriers.''  the  glories  i:. 
of  them  are  chiefly  in  the  chariots  v>hei-ein  the  chal- 
hnigers  make  their  entry;  especially  if  they  be  drawn 
with  strange  l)easts,  as  lions.  })ears.  camels,  and  the 
like;  or  in  th.  >  devices  of  their  (Mitrance;  or  in  the 
bravery°  of  their  liveries;  or  in  the  goodly  furniture  Jd 


of  their  horses  and  armour, 
to  vs. 


But  enoutih  of  these 


XXXVIIl.     OF    NATURE    IN    MEN 

Nature°    is    often    hidden,   sometimes    overronio, 
s(>ldom    extinguished.     Force    makeih    nature    more 
violent  in  the  return;   doctrine  antl  discourse  maketh  .'." 
nature  less  importvme°;    but  custom  only  doth  alter 
and  subdue  nature. 


I'M    ASSAYS  on  tnrxsKLs  rivn,  axj>  mohal 

He  thai  scckoth  victory  ovim'  his  nature  let  him 
not  80t  Iiiiiisolf  too  ijroat  nor  too  small  tasks;  for  the 
first  will  mako  him  (Icjcctcd  by  often  failinfjs;  and 
I  lie  second  will  make  liim  a  small  proceeder,  though 
r.  hv  often  prevailiii^is.  And  at  the  first  let  him  practise 
with  helps,  as  swimmers  do  with  bladders  or  Mishes; 
but  aftei-  a  lime  let  him  practise  with  disadvantages, 
as  dancers  do  with  thick  shoes.  For  it  breeds  ^I't'at 
I)erf(>ct!on.  if  the  practice^  be  harder  than  the  use. 

1'  Where  nature  is  miirhtw  and  therefore  the  victory 
hard,  the  d(^<ir,M>s  had  need  be.  fii'st  to  stay  and  arrest 
natm-e  in  time,  -like  to  him  that  would  say  over 
the  foui'-and-twenty  letters  when  he  was  anory; 
then  to  <i()  less  in  (juantiry, -— as  if  one  should,  in 

1.-' forbearino-  wine,  come  from  drinking;  healths  to  a 
draujj^ht  at  a  meal;  and.  lastly,  to  discontinue  al- 
tojiether.  Hut  if  a  man  have  the  fortitude  and  resolu- 
tion to  enfranchise  himself  at  once,  that  is  the  best: 


L'(> 


"()ptiiiiiis  ilh'    aniiiii  vindcx.  liLMh^ntia  pectus 
Viuciila  (lui  ruiiit.  (lc.l(>liiit(iuc  sciiiel." 


Neither  is  the  anci(>nt  r  le  amiss,  to  bend  nature  as  a 
w-nd  to  a  contrary  extieme.  wh-reby  to  set  it  rifjht ; 
understanding  it,  where  the  contrary  extreme  is  no 

\i{'e. 

'r.  Let  not  a  man  force  a  habit  upon  himself  with  a 
perpetual  con!iinianc(\  but  with  some  intermission. 
Im)1'  both  ih<«  p;iu.s(^  reinforce! h  the  jiew  onset;  and 
li  a  man  that  is  not  jxM'fect  be  ever  in  practice  he 
shall  as  well  ])iactise  his  error>  as  his  abilities,  and 


■■■■ 


KSSAYS   Oli   (OIWSKLS   VI VI I.    .\XH    MOHAL      IM 


imliico  OIK'  lial)it    of   l)olli;   mid   \\\vvv   is  no  means 
to  luilp  this  but   l)y  seasonahlo   iiiirrmissioiis. 

But  let  not  a  man  trust  liis  \  ictorv  over  his  nature 
too  far;  for  nature  will  lav"  huricd  a  ureat  time,  and 


vet  revive  upon  the  occasion  or  temptation. 


Like 


as  r. 


i;  was  with  /Esop's^  damsel,  turned  from  a  cat  to  a 
woman,  who  sat  very  demurely  al  J.ie  hoard's  end° 
liil  a  mouse  ran  before  her.  Therefore  let  a  man 
cither  avoid  the  occasion  altofiether,  or  jmt  himself 
i.ften  to  it,°  that  he  may  1h   little  moved  with  it.  n 

A  man's  nature  is  Ix'st  j)erceived  in  privatene.ss, 
tor  there  is  no  affectation;  in  passion,  I'or  that  putteth 
n  man  out  of  his  precepts;  and  in  a  new  case  or  experi- 
ment, for  there  custom  leaveth  him. 

They   are   happy    men    whose    natures   sort,    with"^  i; 
their  vocations;    otherwise  thev  mav  sav,  "Multimi° 


iiicola 


fuit 


annna    mea 


V 


when    tlu>v    converse    in' 


those  thincjs  they  do  not  affect. °     In  studies,  what- 
xM'ver   a   man    connnandeth    upon    himself,    let    him 
,-et   hoip-s  for  it;    but  whatsoever  is  a<i;reeable  to  hisi'd 
tiature,  let  him  take  no  care  for  anv  set  times;  for 


us 


thoughts  will  fly  to  ir  of  themselves,  so  as  the 
>paces°  of  other  business  or  studies  will  suflice. 

A  man's  nature  runs  either  to  herbs  or  weeds; 
therefore  let  him  seasonably  water  the  one,  and  destroy 
the  other. 


l.'iH      KSSAYS   Oh'   COCXShLS   VIVIL   AX  It   MORAL 


XXXTX.     OF   CUSTOM   AND    EDUCATION 


Mkn's  thoughts  are  mucli  aerordintj;  to  thoir  iii- 
cliiiation^;  tlicir  discourse  and  speeches  aecordiim 
to  their  l('ariiiii<i;  and  infused  opinions^;  but  their 
deeds  are  after  as°  they  liave  been  accustomed.  And 
r>  therefore,  as  MachiaveP  well  noteth,  th()n,i!;h  in  an 
(>vil-favoured°  instance,  there  is  no  trustin«i;  to  the 
force  of  nature,  nor  to  the  bravc-iv°  of  words,  excej)t 
it  be  c()rroborate°  by  custom.  His  instance  is,  that 
for  the  achievinfi;  of  a  desperate  consj)iracy  a  man 

!(►  should  not  rest  ui)on  the  fierceness  of  any  man's 
nature,  or  his  resolute  undertakin«is.  but  take  such 
an  one  as  hath  had  his  hands  formerly  in  blood. 
I^ut  Machiavel  knew  not  of  a  friar  Clement, °  nor  a 
Ravaillac,°  nor  a  .Iaure^uy,°  nor  a  Baltazar  (lerard°: 

1.". yet  his  rule  holdeth  still,  tl;a<^  n.Mure,  nor  the  en<!;a^'e- 
ment  of  words,  are  not  so  forcible  as  custom.  Only 
superstition  is  now  so  W(»ll  advanc(>d  that  men  of  the 
first  blo()(P  are  as  firm  as  butchers  by  occu|)ation; 
and  votary'^  resolution  is  made  e(iuipollent°  to  custom, 

20  even  in  matter  of  blood.  In  other  thinus  the  predomi- 
nancy of  custom  is  everywhere  visible;  in.somuch  as 
a  man  would  wonder  to  hear  men  profess,  protest. 
enp:ag:(\  .ii'ive  iii'cat  words,  and  tluMi  do  just  as  the\ 
have  done  before;  as  if  they  were  dead  images,  and 

'_',■) engines  moved  only  by  the  wheels  of  custom. 

We  see  also  the  reign  or  tyranny  of  custom,  what 
it  is.     The  Indians,   I   mean  th(>  .<ect^  of  their  wise 


ESSAYS   OR   <nV':SKLS   civil.    AXn    MORAL      l.'i*.) 

axon,  lay  tlieins(>lv('s  (iui(>tly  u|)<)»i  a  stack  of  wood, 
and  so  sacriHco  tluMiisclvcs  ])y  tiic.     Nay.  llic  wivos 
strive  to  be  l)urne(l  witli  the  (*orj)ses  of  their  lms})aiuls. 
riie  huls  of  Sparta,  of  aiiricnt   time,  were  wont    to  he 
^'ourged  upon  tlie  ahar  of  Diana  without  so  muelir. 
as    (iueehinf;.°     1     remember    in     the    oeiiiimin^    of 
()iieen    nli/abeth's  time  of   iMi.uland.  an    Irisii  reb(>l. 
condemned,  put  up  a  i)etition  to  the  deputy  tliat   he 
iniiiht   be  handed   in  a   with,  and   not    in  an   haher, 
because    it    had    been    so    used    with    former    rebels,  m 
'rh(>re  be   monks   \\\    Russia,   for   penance,   that    will 
>it   a  wliole  ni<j:ht   in  a  vessel  of  water,  till  they  be 
(Mmas2;e(P  with  hard  ice. 

Many  examples  may  be  put  of  th(>  force  of  custom, 
both  upon  mind  and  l)ody.     Therefore,  since  custom  1.". 
i-  the  principal  ma^-istrate  of  man's  life,  let  men  by 
all   means  endenivour  to  obtain  ,u:ood  customs.     Cer- 
tainly custom  is  most   perfect   when  it   bei-inneth  in 
voun^   years;   this  we   call    education,   which    is,   in 
ert'ect.  but  an  early  custom.     So  W(>  see,  in  lan,iiuaji:es'3) 
the  toniiue  is  more  ))liant  to  all  exim^ssions  and  sounds, 
the  joints  ar(>  more  sui)p!    to  all  feats  of  activity  and 
motions,  in  youth   than  afterwards.     For  it    is  true 
that    late    learners    caimot    so    W(>11    take    the    j)ly°; 
except  it  be  in  some  minds  that    have  not   suffered  25 
themselves  to  fix,  but  have  kept  themselves  open  and 
jtrepannl  to  receive  continr.al  aJuenrlment,  which  is 
(>xceedinp;  rare. 

I^ut   if  the   forc(^  of  custom  simple  and  separat(\ 
be  ^reat,  the  force  of  custom  cf)pulate  and  conjoined  :'.u 


140 


KSSAYS  (,/,'  (nrysKl.s  <  nil.   am,    MoR  \L 


and  collo-^iato,  is  far  ^neater.  Vnv  (hrrc  oxamplc 
teaolioth,  coinpaiiy  coinforKMli/^  oniiilMfion  (|uic'keii- 
otli,  «i;l()ry  raiscMli;  .so  as  in  sucji  piacos  the  force  oi 
f'ustoni  is  in  liis  (>\ait;itioii.  Certainly  the  <ireat 
r.  niultiplicatifni  of  virtucvs  upon  human  nature  rest<'th 
upoi^  societies  well  ordained  and  disciphned ;  for 
coninionvveaiths  and  «(ood  j^-overrunents  do  nourish 
virtue  ffrown,  hut  do  not  much  mend  the  seeds.  \\\\\ 
the  misery  is,  that  the  most  elfectual  means  are  now 
10  applied  to  the  cnds°  least  to  be  desired. 


XL.   OF  joRTrxi: 

It  cannot  he  denied  hut  outward  accidents  con- 
duce much  to  fortune:  favour,  opportunity,  death  of 
others,  occasion  (ittin<.-  virtue.  But  chieHy  the  mould 
of  a  man's  fortune  is   in   his  own   hands.     -  I'aher^ 

i.-.(iuisque  forluna'  sua\ "  saith  tlie  |)oct.''  And  the 
most  fre(|uent  of  external  causes  is.  that  the  folly 
ot  one  man  is  the  fortune  of  another;  for  no  man 
prospers  so  suddenly  as  hy  others'  <M'rors.  "  S(>rix^ns'' 
nisi  serpcntem  c()mederil   non  lit   draco." 

■3)  Overt  and  apparent °.  virtues  i)rin«  forth  praise, 
hut  there  he  secret  and  hidden  virtues  that  hrin<^ 
forth  fo  r;-;  certain  dehveries^  of  a  man's  ^eff 
which  ha  .o  name.  The  Spanish  name,  desem- 
hoUura°    partly    expres.seth    them:    when    there    he 

L'.-iUot  stonds''  nor  restiveness  i?i  a  m.-in's  nature,  hut 
that  the  wheels  of  his  mind  kce])  way  with  the  u  heels 


mmm 


KSSAYS   on   ritl  SSKI.S   rinL    A  Mi    Mi>i:M.      141 


Ml"  Ills  I'ortuiH'.      I'or  so  I/ivv.'^  atUT  lie  had  (losiTiluMJ 
(  ati»  Major'  in  those  words.  "In  illo  viro.'^'  taiitiim 
rr.ltiir  eorf)oris  el  aiiiini  luil.  ut  (jUoeini()iie  loco  iiatus 
(-set  i'ortuiiaiii  sibi  tai-turus  \ideretur. "  falleth  upon 
ihat.  that  lie  had  rrrsulilr  iwjrniuni^     Therefore,  if  a  5 
man  look  sharply  and  attentively,  he  shall  see  fortune ; 
Mil-    it.ou<;li    sh(-    I)''    blind     yet    she    is    not    invisible, 
riif  way  of  fortune  is  like  the  milken  \va>   in  the  sky, 
vvhicli  is  a  nieetinii'  or  knot  of  a  number  of  small  stars, 
iKtt  seen  asunder,  but  uivin*;  linht  to.i!:ether.     So  are  M 
I  here  a  number  of  litth'  and  sean-e  (lisccM'iied  virtues, 
or    rather    faculties    and    customs,    that    make    men 
fortunate.      The  Italians  note  some  of  them,  sucii  as 
a  man  would  little   think.     When  they  speak  of  one 
(hat  camiot   do    amiss,   they   will    throw   it    into  his  i."i 
other  conditions,  that    he    hath  "  poco   di    matto.°" 
And.    certainly,    there    be    not    two    more    forlunate 
pi'operties  tha'i  to  ha\'e  a  little  of  the  fool,  and  not 
too  much  of  the   honest.     Tiierefore  extreme  lovers 
of    ilieir   country   or   mast(*rs   were   never   fortunate,  ■-»«» 
iMilher   can    they   be;   for  wIumi    a   man    j)laceth   his 
thoughts  without  himself,  he  ^oeth  not  his  own  way. 
An  hasty  fortune  maketh   an  enterpriser  anil  re- 
mover°  (the  French  hath  it  better,  intrcpirnant,  or 
rvinuanl);     but    th(^  exercised'^   fi>rtune    maketh   thei'.") 
able  man.      Fortune  is  to  be  iioiioured  and  respected, 
and    it    be    but    for   her   daughters,   C'oniidence   and 
Kepiitation.     F'or  those    two    felicity   breedeth;   the 
first  within  a  man's  self,  the  latter  in  others  towards 
him.  :w 


141!      KSSAYS    OR   rorXSKLS   CIVIL   AXIt   MORAL 

All  wise  men,  to  (Iccliiic  the  vnxy'^  of  their  own 
virtues,  use  to  ascrihe  them  to  Providence  and  For- 
tune; for  so  they  tnay  the  better  assume  them, 
and  besides  it  is  ,ii,reat  ness  in  a  man  to  be  tiie  earc 
.".of  tlu^  hijiiier  powcM's.  So  (a'sar°  said  to  the  |)ilot 
in  the  temi)(\>^t,  "Ca'sarem  i)ortas,'^et  foi'tunam  ejus." 
So  Sylla'^  choM'  the  name  of  jvlix'^  and  not  of  niai)nus<° : 
and  it  hath  been  noted  that  those  that  ascribe  openly 
too    much    to    their    own    wisdom    and    jiolicy.    end 

loinfortunate.  It  is  written  that  Timotheus,"  the 
Athenian,  after  he  had.  in  the  account  he  ^ave  to 
the  state  of  his  .liovernnuMit ,  often  interlaced  this 
sjx'ech.  "And  in  this  fortune  had  no  part."  never 
pr()S|)ered  in  anythin<i-  he  undertook  afterwards. 

15  Certainly  then'  be  Avhose  fortunes  are  like  Homer's'^ 
ver.ses,  that  have  a  slide  and  easiness  more  than  the 
verses  of  other  j)oets;  as  lMutarch°  saith  of  Timole- 
on's"  fortune,  in  resj)ect  of  that  of  Ajiesihuis^  or 
Fpaniinondas.°     And  that  this  should  be,  no  doubt 

L'oit  is  much  in  a  man's  self.*^ 


XLi.    OF  rsruY 

Maxy  have  made  witty  invectiv(\s  ai?:ainst  usury."-' 
They  say  that  it  is  pity  the  devil  shoukl  have  God's 
part,  which  is  t  he  titiie"^ ;  that  the  usurer  is  the  greatest 
Sal)bath-breaker.  because  his  plough^  goeth  every 
2") Sunday;  that  the  usurer  is  the  drone  that  Virgil" 
sj)eaketl)  of: 

"  lyiiavuin  '  fucos  pecus  a  priesepibus  iuveut ; '' 


MM 


J^SSAYS   OR    COiXSKLS   i  IVIL    AM)    MORAL      U.S 

;hat  tlie  usuhm-  l)ivak('tli  tlic  first  law  that  was  made 
for  niaiikind  after  lli(>  fall,  which  was  "  In  sndore" 
Miltus  tui  eomedes  j)anein  tuuiii,"  nol    "In  siidon^^ 
\iiltus    alieni;"    that    usiinM-s    should    have    ()ran<;e- 
ta\viiy°  bonnets,  because  they  do  judai/e^:  that   it   is 5 
auainst  natun*  for  money  to   beiict    money;  and  the 
like.      I  say  this  only,  that   usury  is  a   "  concessum  ' 
|)ro))ter  duritiem   cordis;"   for  since   there   nuist    be 
horn )win*i  and  lend in<i,  and  men  are  so  hard  of  heai'l 
as  they  will  not  KmkI  freely,  usiu'y  nuist  be  permitted.  li> 
Some    othtM's    have    matle    susi)icious°    and    cuimin^ 
|)ro]")ositions  of  banks,   (lis<'o\-erv   of  men's  estates, ° 
and  other  inventions.      Hut  few  have  spoken  of  usury 
usefully.      It  is  o'ood  io  .set  b(»foreusfheincommodities° 
iind   commodities   of  usury,    that    the   ^idod   may    l)ei.5 
either  w(Mohed  out  or  culled  out;  and  warily  to  pro- 
vide that,  while  we  make  forth  to  that  which  is  better, 
we  meet  not  with  that  which  is  wors(>. 

The  discoiumodities  of  usury  are:  Fii-st,  that 
it  makes  fewer  merchants.  For  were  it  not  for  this 20 
lazy  trade  of  usury,  money  would  not  lie  still,  but 
woukl  in  jjreat  j)art  be  employed  uj)on  merchandising!;, 
which  is  the  nna  porta°  of  wealth  in  a  state.  The 
second,  that  it  makes  ])oor  merchants.  For  as  a 
farmer  cannot  husband  his  fjround  .so  well  if  he  sit°2.") 
at  a  great  rent,  so  the  merchant  camiot  drive  his 
trade  so  well  if  he  sit  at  great  usury.  Th(>  third 
is  incident  to  thv  other  two;  and  that  is  th.e  decay 
of  customs°  of  kings  or  states,  which  ebb  or  flow  with 
merchandising.     The    fourth,    that    it    bringetli    thciio 


jii 


144      ESSAYS   OK   <  orxSKLS   aviL    A XI)  MORAL 


trea.siiro  of  a  rcalin  or  state  into  a  few  l^aiuls.  For 
the  iisuror  boing-  at  crrtaintic's,  and  others  at  iincer- 
taintie\-^,  at  the  oinl  of  the  <i;aino  most  of  tlic  iiionov 
will  be  in  the  box;  and  ever  a  state  flourisheth  when 
sweahh  is  more  equally  sjM-ead.  The  fifth,  that  it 
beats  down  the  prioo  of  land;  for  the  (^  iiployment 
of  money  is  chiefly  either  merehandi-in^  or  pui- 
ehasing;,°  and  usury  waylays  both.  The  sixth, 
that  it  doth  dull  and  damp  all  industries.  im])rove- 

loments,   and   new   inventions,   wherein   money   would 

be  stirriuft-,  if  it  were  not  for  tliis  slu^.^     The  last, 

that  it  is  the  eanker  and  ruin  of  many  men's  estates; 

which  in  process  of  time  breeds  a  public  poverty. 

On  the  other  si(1e.  the  connnodities  of  usury  are:  — 

15  First,  that  howsoever  usury  in  some  respect  hin- 
dereth  merchandisin«^,  yet  in  some  ;)tii(>r  it  advanceth 
it;  for  it  is  certain  that  the  <?reatest  part  of  trade 
is  driven  by  youni?  merchants,  upon  borrowina;  at 
interest ;  so  as  if  the  usurcM'  either  call  in  or  keep  back 

2()his  money,  tjiere  will  ensue  presently  a  ,e;reat  stand° 
of  trade.  The  second  is,  that  W( .  e  it  not  for  this  easy 
borrowing;  upon  interest,  men's  necessities  would 
draw  upon  them  a  most  sudden  undoing;,  in  that  they 
would  be  forced  to  sell  their  means,  be  it   lands  or 

25 goods,  far  under  foot°;  .'.'.nd  so,  whereas  usury  doth 
but  p;naw°  upon  them,  bad  markets  would  swallow 
them  quite  up.  As  for  mortjiauinir  or  f.mwning. 
it  will  little  mend  the  matter;  for  either  !nen  will 
not  take  pawns  without  use,°  or  if  they  do,  they  will 

iwlook    precisely    fur    the    forfeiture.     1    remember    a 


KSSAYS   on   roiXSHI.S   (71//.    .IA7>    MolLiL      Wt 


rnul  Hionevcd  man  in  \\\v  coutitrv  that  would  say, 
"Tiu'  devil  take  this  usury,  it  kcH'ps  us  from  i'or- 
iritures  of  mort^aiios  and  iionds."  The  third  and 
List  is,  that  it  is  a  \auity  to  coiiccivt'  that  thefe 
vnild  be  ofiliiuifv  borrowing  without  profit;  and 
ii  is  impossiljje  to  conecMxc  the  number  of  inconven- 
Kiices  that  will  ensue,  if  borrowinii-  be  eram|«>d. 
Thcfefon^  to  sjK>ak  of  the  aljoiishinii-  (if  usury  is  idle; 


I  j 


:ill  states  have  ever  had  it  in  onv  kind  or  rate,  or 
(iliier.     So  as  that  opinion  must  be  sent  to  I'topia."'' i 

Ml" 


I) 


To  s{X'ak  now  of  the  reformation  and  re^lement° 
usury,  how  the  (.liseommoditii's  of  it  may  be  best 
;i\t)iiled  and  the  eonmiotlities  retained:  it  appears 
t)y  the  balanee  of  connnodities  and  (.liseonunodities 
It!  usury,  two  thinji's  are  to  be  ri'conciled.  The  one,  lo 
that  the  tooth  of  usury°  be  grinded  that  it  bite  not 
too  ttmch:  the  other,  that  there  be  left  o[)en  a  means 
i<)  invite  moneyed  meii  to  lend  to  the  merehanls, 
tor  the  eontinuinp;  and  quickening'  of  trade.  This 
cannot  l)e  done  except  you  introduce  two  s(>\'eralL'o 
sorts  of  usury,  a  less  and  a  M'fcater.  loi-  if  you  reduce 
usury  to  one  low  rate,  it  will  ease  the  common  borrower, 
lint  the  merchant  will  be  to  seek  for^  money.  And 
It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  trade  of  merchandise,  being 
the  most  lucrative,  may  bear  usury  at  a  good  rate; 2") 
other  contracts  not  ^\,. 

To  serve  both  intentions,  the  way  would  be  briefix' 
thus:  that  there  be  two  rates  of  usury,  the  one  free 
and  general  for  all;  the  other  under  license  only  to 
certain  persons,  and  in  certain   places  of  nierchan-;«i 


J4(>      KSSAYS   on   col  SSKI.S    CIVIL    AM)    MORAL 


(iisiiii;.  I'irst.  tluM-cforc,  let  usury  in  ^^cncral  l)c 
reduced  to  li\<'  in  lite  iiundred :  lUid  let  that  rate  l)e 
proclaimed  to  he  free  and  current:  and  let  tlie  stale 
shut    itseh"  out    to  lake°  any   penahy   for  the  same. 

.-.This  will  i)reser\(>  borrowinu'  from  any  jieneral  stop 
oi-  dryness;  this  will  ease  infinite  borrowers  in  the 
coimtry ;  this  will  in  .uood  i)aiM  raise  the  price  of  land, 
because  land  |)urchased  at  sixte(>n  years'  j)urchase 
will  yield  six   in   the  hundred,  and  somewhat    more, 

10  whereas  this  rate  of  inverest  yields  but  five;  tliis, 
l)y  like  reason,  will  encourage  and  ediie°  industrious 
and  ))rofitable  ImprovenuMits,  becau.se  many  will 
rather  venture  in  that  kind  than  take  five  in  the 
hundred,  (^specially  havin,!'-  l)een  us(mI  to  jj:reater  profit. 

1.-, Secondly,  h^t  there  be  certain  persons  licensed  to  lend 
to  known  merchants  upon  usury  at  a  higher  rate, 
and  let  it  be  with  the  cautions  followinji".  Let  the 
rat«>  be,  e\(Mi  with  the  nuMvhant  himself,  somewhat 
more  easy   than   that    he  usimI   formerly   to   pay;    for 

L'oby  that  means  all  borrowers  shall  have  soine  ease  by 
this  reformation,  be  he  nuM-ciiant  or  whosoever.  Let 
it  be  no  bank,  or  conunon  stock,  but  every  man  b-- 
master  of  his  own  money.  Not  that  I  altojjether 
mislike    banks,   but    they   will   hanlly  be  brooked   in 

•j.%re<!:ar(l  of  c(M-tain  suspicions.  Let  the  state  be 
answered"  some  small  matter  for  the  license,  and  the 
rest  left  to  the  lendcM-;  tor  if  the  abatement  be  but 
small,  it  will  no  whit  discouraji;e  th(>  lender.  For 
he.  for  e\ampl(\  that  took  before  ten  or  nine  in  the 

:m)  hundred,  will  sooner  descend  to  eight  iu  the  huudivil 


KSSAYS   OH   corXSELS   CIVIL    .\\l>    MoRM-      117 

ilijiii  iiivc  over  his  trade  <•!'  ii>urv.  and  ^<>  t'r<'iii  ccrtai!! 
^aiiis  to  ,uains  of  lia/ard.  Let  these  Hceii>ed  UmhUts 
!„•  in  iiuiulu'r  iiidelinite.  l>iil  I'estraiiuMl  to  certain 
in('i{)al  ('iti(>s  and  towns  of  nierchandisin.ii ;    tor  then 


r 

ihey    will    !»<•    hardly    al.le    i.«    <'o!>ur^'    otluM-    metis 
hK-iievs  in  the  conntr)-;    so  as  the  license  of  nine  will 


t  Slick  away  the  cun-eiit  rate  ol  hve.  lor  no  man 
will  send  his  moneys  fai'  off.  nor  put  them  into  un- 
kii(»wn  hands. 

If  it  be  objected  that  this  doth  in  a  sort  authorize  in 
usury,  which  b(>fore  was  in  soiiH-  places  but  ju'riuissixc; 
ihe  answer  is.  that   it   is  better  to  miti.uate  usury  by 
declaration"  than  to  suffer  it  to  ra,uv  by  connivance. 


XLIl.    OF    YOrTH    AND    ACE 

A  M.\N°  that  is  youiiij;  in  yi^ars  may  be  old  in 
hours,  if  he  have  lost  no  time.  Hut  that  happen- ir- 
cth  rarely,  (ienerally  youth  is  like  the  lirst  co.ui- 
lations.  not  .-^o  wise  as  the  second.  I'or  ther(^  is  .. 
vouth  in  thoujihts  as  well  as  in  a.ii'es.  And  yet  the 
invention  of  yomiii  men  is  more  lively  than  that  ot 
old;  and  ima«2;inations  streai.i  into  their  minds2<) 
better,  and,  as  it   were,  more  divinely. 

Natures  that  have  much  heat,  and  jiicat  and  violent 
ilesires   and    pert urb.at ions,   a.re    not    i-ipe    for   action 
till    they   have   pa.ssed    the   meridian   of   tiieii-  years; 
as  it  waswiMi  .Julius  ('a^sar°  and  Septimiits  Severus.°'r. 
of  the  latter  of  whom  it   is  said,  "  .Iuventutem°  egit 


. 


L^.t^      jLk..M    ..i^l 


148       ESSAYS    nli   fOrSSKLS    civil.    AM)    MO  HAL 


im 


erroribus,  into  furorihus.  j)lenani. "     And  ycT  lie  wa 
the    al)lost    otiij)eror.    ahnost.    of    all    the    list, 
reposed  natures  may  do  wi'll  in  youth,  as  it  is  seeti  m 
Au<iustus  Ca'sar.°  Cosnius°  Duke  of  l-'lorence,  Gnstcii 
5de  l''ois,°  and  others. 

On  the  other  side,  heat  and  vivaeity  in  ajie  is  an 
excellent  roniposiiion°  for  business,  Y()un<:;  men  aic 
htier  to  invent  than  to  jud«i;e,  fitter  for  exeeutioi: 
than  for  counsel,  and  fitter  foi-  new  pnijccts  than  fiu 

10 settled  Inisiness.  For  tiie  e\{x'i'ietice  of  ajie,  in  things 
that  fall  within  the  eoni{>ass  of  it,  directeth  them,  but 
in  new  things  abuseth  them.'^ 

The  errors  of  young-  men  are  the  ruin  of  business; 
but  the  errors  of  a<jjed  men  amount   but   to  this. 

inthat  mor(>  mij^ht  have  becMi  (lon(\  or  sooner.  Youiiu 
men,  in  the  conduct  and  manage''  of  acttions,  (nnbracc 
more  than  they  can  hold;  stir  more  than  they  can 
quiet;  fly  to  the  Ln\v,  without  consideration  of  the 
means    and    degrees;    j)ursue    some    few    j)rinciples. 

20 which  they  have  chanced  upon,  absurdly;  care  not 
to°  innovate,  which  draws  unknown  inconveniences; 
use  extreme  remedies  at  first°;  and,  that  which  doub- 
leth  all  errors,  v.-ill  not  acknowledge  or  retract  th(Mn; 
like  an  unready"  horse,  that  will  neither  stop  nor  turn. 

J")      Men   of  age   object    too   nuich,    consult    too   long, 

adventure  too   little,  repent    too   soon,  and   seldom 

drive  Inisiness  home  to  the  full  period, °  but  contenr 

themselves  with  a  mediocrity  of  success. 

Certainly   it   is  good   to   compoimd  employments 

30  of  both° :  for  that  will  be  good  for  the  ])resent,  becaus« 


_. 


1:SSAYS   OU   t'OrXSKLS   civil.    AXI>   MOh'AL      149 

(lie  \irtii('s  (>r  cither  iiirc  iiiny  ('(iiTcct  the  defects  of 
lidth:  and  <i()0(l  for  siicccssioii/  tliat  youiiii  uicii  inav 
Im'  I(\'ii'n(M's.  while  men  in  a,u"c  ai'e  actors;  ;iii<l.  histly. 
oiiod  for  extern''  accid(Mi1s,  because  authority  follow- 
(ih  old  men,  an<l  favour  and  |)oi)ularity,  youth.  ."> 

liut.  for  the  moral  part.  |)erha|)s,  youtli  will  havo 
I  lie  i)r(^-eniin(Mic(\  as  a^e  hath  for  the  politic.  A 
certain  Hal)i)in  Mtpon  the  text.  "  "S'our  yonnii'  nion° 
■;hall  see  visions,  and  your  old  men  shall  dream 
ih"eanis,"  intVrrcth  that  younii;  men  arc  admitted  Ki 
iitnucr  to  (lod^  than  old.  IxM'ause  vision  is  a  clearer 
revelation  than  a  dreatn.  And  certainly  the  more  a 
man  drinketh  of  the  world,  the  more  it  intoxicateth ; 
and  a<re  doth  profit  ratlu^r  in  the  ])owers  of  nnder- 
>randin^,  than  in  the  virtues  of  the  will  and  affections,  i.-) 

Tliere  be  some  have  an  ov(>r-earIy  ripeness  in 
I  heir  vears,  which  fadeth  betimes.  These  are.  first, 
■>uch  as  have  brittle  wits,  the  (Hi;»j:e  whereof  is  soon 
lurned ;  sucli  as  was  Hermoj2;enes,°  th(>  rhetorician, 
whose  books  are  exceeding  subtile,  who  afterwards 'jo 
waxed  stupid.  A  second  sort  is  of  those  that  have 
<<m\e  natural  dispositions  which  have  better  grace 
in  youth  than  in  age:  such  as  is  a  fluent  and  luxuriant 
-neech.  which  becomes  youth  well,  but  not  age. 
So  Tully"  sahh  of  Hortensius.°  "Idem  manebat,°  jri 
iieque  idem  decebat."  The  tliird  is  of  such  as  take 
too  high  a  strain  at  tiie  iirst,  and  are  magnanimous 
more  than  tract  of  years  can  uphold;  as  was  Scipio 
\fricanus.°  of  whom  Livy°  saith  in  etfect.  "  Ultima^ 
))rimis  cedebant. "  i^(i 


m^ 


150      J-JSSAYii   Oli   roi  XSHLS   CIVIL   AND   MORAL 


XLIIl.    OF   BEAUTY 

Virtue®  is  like  a  rich  stono.  host  plain  set;  and 
surely  virtne  is  Ixvst  in  a  body  that  is  eoniely,  though 
not  of  (lelieate  f(>atures,  and  that  hath  rather  dignity 
of  ])res(^n('e  than  beauty  of  as})eet.  Neither  is  it 
5alni()st°  seen  that  very  beautiful  persons  are  otherwise 
of  n;reat  virtue;  as  if  Nature  were  rather  busy  not 
to  err.  than  in  labou.r  to  produce  excelleney.  And 
therefore  they  j)rove  aeeoniplished,  but  not  of  great 
spirit, °  and  study  rathor  IxOiaviour  than  virtue.     But 

10 this  holds  not  always:  for  Augustus  (a>sar,°  Titus 
Vespasianus,°  Philip  le  Bel  of  Franee.°  Kdward  IV. 
of  England, °  Aleibiades  of  Athens, °  Isinael  ihe  Sophy° 
of  Persia,  were  all  high  and  great  sj)irits,  and  yet  the 
most  beautiful  men  of  their  times.     In  beauty,  that 

15 of  favoiu-°  is  more  than  that  of  eolour°;  and  that  of 
dee(nit  and  graeious  motion,  more  than  that  of  favour. 
That  is  the  best  i)art  of  beauty  which  a  picture  cannot 
express,  —  no,  nor  the  first  sight  of  the  life.  There 
is  no  excellent  beauty  that  hath  not  some  strange- 

2()ness  in  the  })roportion.  A  man  cannot  tell  whether 
Ai:)elles°  or  Albert  l)urer°  were  the  more°  trifler; 
whereof  the  one  would°  make  a  personage  by  geo- 
metrical proportions;  the  other,  by  taking  the  best 
parts   out   of  divers   faces   to   make   one   excellent. 

L'.iSuch  personages,  I  think,  would  please  nobody  but 
the  painter  that  made  them.  Not  but  I  think  a 
painter  may  make  a  better  face  than  ever  was;  but 


mgmummmm 


KSSAYS   on   rorXSKLS   CIVIL    AM*   MOUAL 


IT)! 


i„.  must  *1<)  it  l)y  a  kind  of  tVlicity,  as  a  musician  tliat 
itiakcth  an  cxct'lk'nt  air  in  music,  and  not   by  ruk'. 
A  man  shall  sec  fa<'cs  that,°  if  you  examine  them  i)art 
l.y  part,  you  shall  find  never  a  j^ood.  and  yet  alto^icther 
,lo  well/    If  it  be  tru(>   that    the   princij-al    part°  of" 
l„>auty  is  in  decunt  motion,  certainly  it  is  no  marvel 
thoujrh    i)ers()ns   in   years   seem    many    times"    more 
ainiaT'le:     "  Pul('liroruni°    autunnuis     pulch(>r;"     for 
no  youth  can  be  conu^ly  but   by  i)ardon,°  and  eon- 
sidering   the  youth   as   to   make   uj)   the   comeliness,  m 
Beauty  is  as  sununer  fruits,  which   ire  easy  to  corrupt 
and  cannot  last;  and,  for  the  most  part,  it  makt>s  a 
dissolute  vouth,  and  an  age  a  little  out  of  countenance; 
hut  yet  certainly,  again,  if  it  liglit  \vell,°  it  maketh 
virtues  shine  and  vices  blush.  i^ 


XLIV.    OF   DEFORMITY 

Deformp:d  persons  are  commonly  oven  with  nature; 
for  as  nature  hath  done  ill  by  them,  so  tlo  they  by 
nature,  being  for  the  most  ])art,  as  the  Scrijiture 
saith,  "void  of  natural  affection;"  and  so  they  have 
their  revenge  oi  nature.  (\>rtainly  there  is  a  consent '-'() 
l)(>t\veen  the  body  and  the  mind,  and  where  nature 
erreth  in  the  one  she  ventureth  in  the  other:  "  Ubi 
peccat^  in  uno,  peiiclitatur  in  altero."  But  beoau8e° 
there  is  in  man  an  election  touching  the  frame  of  his 
mind,  and  a  necessity  in  the  frame  of  his  body,  theiM 
stars  of  natural  hiclination  are  sometinu^s  obscured 


ir»2      KSSAYS   OR   i(jr\SK/,S   rHi/,    a\I>    Mnn\L 


by  the  sun  of  liisclpline  and  virtue.     Tlicn't'on'  it 
good  to  considor  of  doforniity.  not  as  a  sign.°  whicii 


ihlc;   but  as  a  cause  which  seldom  failctli 


more  deceivaDi 
of  the  effect. 
5  Whosoever  hath  anylhing  (i  .1  in  his  person  thtit 
doth  imhice  cont(Mnpt,  iiatii  also  a  perpetual  spur^ 
in  himself  to  rescue  and  deliver  hini  >if  from  scorn. 
Therefore  all  detormed  persons  are  extfetne  bold; 
first,  as  in  tlu'ir  own  defence,  as   b^'ing  e\j)osed   l<. 

10 scorn;  but  in  process  of  time,  by  a  general  iiabit. 
Also  it  stirreth  in  them  industry,  and  ("Specially  of 
this  kind,  to  watch  and  observe  the  weakness  of  othei's. 
that  they  may  have  somewhat  to  repay.  Again,  in 
their  superiors  it  quencheth  jealousy  towards  them,  as 

15  jjersons  that  they  think  they  may  at  pleasure  despise; 
and  it  layeth  their  com|)etitors  and  emulators  asleep, 
as  never  believing  they  should  be  in  i)os>ibility  of 
advancement,  till  they  se(^  them  in  possession.  So 
that,   upon  the   matter, °  in  a  great  wit"  deformity 

20  is  an  advantage  to  rising. 

Kings  in  ancient  tin)es,  and  at  this  present  in  some 
countries,  were  wont  to  put  great  trust  in  eunuchs: 
because  they  that  are  envious  towards  all,  are  more 
obnoxious"  and  officious"  towards  one.     l:iut  yet  their 

25  trust  towards  them  hath  rather  been  as  to  good  spials° 
and  good  whisperers  than  good  magistrates  and 
officers.  And  rruich  like  is  the  reason"  of  deformed 
persons.  Still"  the  ground  is,  they  will,  if  th(>v  be 
of  spirit,  seek  to  free  themselves  from  scorn;  which 

liomust  be  either  by  virtue  or  malice.     And,  therefore, 


KSSAYS   on   (Ol  XSKiS   ilVIL    AMi    MORAL      1 


r.\ 


,.(  it  dot  ])o  ni;irv(>ll(Hl  if  soinctinips  they  provc 
,.\n'll('iit  persons,  as  was  Airosilaus.^  Zixui^w"  tli('  son 
ni  Solynian.°  .Ksop.°  Casca^'  PrcsLliMit  of  IVni;  aiul 
S()i-i-ates°  iiuiv  go  likewise  amongst  them,  with  others. 


XLV.    OF    BUILDING 

ITorsF.s  are  huilt  to  live  in.  and  not  to  look  on°;5 
thcrefon^    let    use    \)v    preferred    hefon^    uniformity. ° 
,.\ccpt   wh(M-e  l)oth  mav  he  had.      Leave  the  goodly 
f.ihries  of  houses  for  beauty  only,°  to  the  enchanted 
p.ilaces   of   the    poets,   who   l)uil<l    them   with    sm;dl 
,'.;>st.     He  that  builds  a  lair  house  upon  an  ill  seat.^'iti 
.•ommitteth  himself  to  prison.     Neither  do   I   reckon 
it    an   ill   s(vd    only   where   the   air   is   unwholesome. 
hiif  likewise  where  the  air  is  unequal;  as  you  shall 
see  many   fine  seats,   set   upon   a   knap°  of  ground, 
.  iivironeil  witli  higher  !ii!!s  round  about  it;    whereby  i.-, 
;he  heat  of  the  su!i  is  ]»enl    in.  and  the  wind  gath- 
(>reth  as  in  troughs,  so  as  you  shall  have,  and  that 
Hiddenly,  as  great  diversity  of  heat  .and  cold  as  if  you 
dwelt   in   several   places.     Neither   is   it    ill   air  only 
that   maketh  a!i  ill  seat,  but  ill  ways,°  ill  markets, -ji) 
;ind.  if  you  will  consult  with  Momus,°  ill  neighbours. 
I  sneak  not  of  many  mon>:  want  of  water;  want  of 
wood,  shade,  and  shelter;  want  of  fruit  fulness,  and 
trixture   of    fi:rounds    of    several    natures;    want    of 
prospect;  want   of  levc^l  grounds;  want  of  places  at  25 
-onie  near  distance  for  sports  of  hunting,  hawking, 


J.")4    A'.s'.s.j r.s  on  (  nrxsh'Ls  rnir  AXf>  mohal 


and  racos;  too  near  the  sea.  too  remote;  haviim 
(not)  X\w  conunodity"  of  riaviiiahle  rivers,  or  tlir 
discommodity  of  their  overflowing;  too  far  oft 
from  •Treat  cities,  wliicli  may  hinder  business;  or 
r.  too  near  them,  which  iurcheth°  ail  provisions,  and 
maketh  everythin.i!;  dear:  where  a  man  hath  a  ^re;ii 
hvin<i;  laid  together,  atid  where  he  is  scanted;  —  ;il! 
which,  as  it  is  impossible'.  j)erhaps.  to  find  to<>;ethcr. 
so  it  is  <io.»(l  to  know  them,  and  think  of  them,  tliat 
l<»a  man  may  take  as  many  as  he  cati;  aiui  if  he  iiaw 
sev(M-al  dwelHn<;s,  that  he  sort°  them  so,  that  what 
he  wanteth  in  tiie  one  he  may  find  in  tlio  other, 
Liicidiiis^  answered  Pomp(\v°  well,  who.  when  ho  saw 
his  stately  ^alleric^s,  and  rooms  so  larfjco  and  lip;ht- 

ir.some,°  in  on(>  of  his  houses,  said,  "Surely  an  oxcel- 
lont  place  for  summer,  hut  iiow  do  you  in  winter?" 
Lucullus  answered,  ''Why,  do  you  not  think  me  as 
wise  as  some  fowl  are,  that  ever  change  their  abode 
towards  the  winter?" 

20  To  j)ass  from  the  seat  to  the  house  itself,  we  will 
do  as  Cicero°  doth  in  the  orator's  art,  who  writes 
books  "  I)e  Oratore,"  and  a  book  he  entitles  "Ora- 
tor;" whereof  the  former  delivers  the  j)recepts  of 
the    art,    and    the    latter    the    perfection.     We    will 

L'a  therefore  describe  a  princely  palace.  makin^Lr  a  brief 
model  thereof.  \'\\y  it  is  stran<ie  to  see,  ;i;>---  \\\ 
Europe,  such  hu<i:e  buildiiifrs  as  the  Vatican"  and 
Kscurial°  and  some  others  be.  and  \v\  scarce  a  \cvx 
fair  room  in  them. 

;}o     First,  therefore,  1  say,  you  cannot  have  a  perfect 


t:ss.i]s  on  (inssi'.i.s  <  ivii.    wn  M«»mi.     \^ 


.,:il;icc.   cxccit?    \nii    li;i\c    t\V(»   sr ••<'!';il  '   sides:     ;i    side 
!,,i-   the   ItaiHi'.K't  /    ;is   is   -pokcii    d    iti    llic    hook    (' 
llr-'cr" :    and  a  sid.-  tor  ihc  iioii^rlioid,        iln'  one  I.  •■ 
I,  ar-:.s  and  triiiin|»li-;    and  the  ((llicr  for    Iwdlinu.      I 
iiiidcrsland  l)otli  these  .>ides  to  l)e  not   (.nly  returns."'."- 
l,!i!    parts  ol'  the  front:  and   to  l)e  uniloi'ni  without, 
iliouiih  severally   partitionet     within:    and    to  l«e  on 
!..»tl!  sides  of  a  ureat   and  stately  towri-.  in  the  midst 
,,!    the   front,   that    as   it    were  joineth   them   to,«:-elhei 
1,11  either  hand.      1  would  ha\c  (»n  the  side  of  1  h(>  ban-  u 
(|Uet.   in.   front,  one  only   uoodly   room   ahove  stairs, 
of  ^oine  forty  foot   hi,<ih  :    and  under  it   a  room  for  a 
dressin.u"  or    preparing    jtlace.    at    times   of    ti'iumphs. 
( )u    the   other   <ide.    whieh    is    the    hou-ehold    sid(>,    I 
wisii  it  divided  at   the  hrst   into  a  hall  an«l  a  <hapel.  i"- 
with  a  ])artition  between,  both  of  .uood  state  and  biii- 
iie>s:    and  those  not   to  iio  all  the  leii.iith.  but  to  hiive 
•I'    the  farther  end  a  winter  and  a  sununer  parlour. 
!,uth  fair.     And  rtudei'  these  nioms  a  fail"  an«l  iari!;e 
<cllar  sunk  under  ,iir(.und:  an<l    likewise  some   pi-ivy  .'h 
kitchens,  with  butteries  and    pantries.   :md   the   like. 
A-  tor  the  tower.  I  would  have  it   two  stories  of  eiuh- 
(cn   foot    hi.iih  apiece,  above  the  two  win^s:    aiid   a 
L,oo(ll\-    leads^    upon    the    lop.    railed,    with    siafua- 
iMterposeiP;    and  tiie  same  towci'  to  be  di\ided  intoj'. 
n.oiiis.  as  shall  be  thosiuht    fit.     Tlie  stairs  likewise 
to  the  upper  rooms,  let    them  be  upon  a  fair  open 
!ie\\(  1,°  and  finely  railed  in  with  iniai!<  -^  of  wood  east 
into  a  brass  colour;    and  a   v<   y  fair  lan{lin^-i)laee 
at  the  top.     But  this  to  bo.  if  .  ou  (i  .  not  i)oint    auy  m 


15(3      ESSAYS   (f/{   CO!  XSELS   VIVIL    AND   MORAL 


of  tlie  lower  rooms  for  u  dining-place  of  servants; 
for  otlierwise  you  yhall°  have  the  servants'  dinner 
after  your  own,  for  the  steam  of  it  will  come  up  as 
ill  a  tunnel.  And  so  much  for  the  front.  Only  I 
r.  understand  tiie  height  of  the  first  stairs  to  be  sixteen 
foot,  which  is  the  heinht  of  the  lower  room. 

Jk\vond  thih  front  is  there  to  be  a  fair  court,  but 
three  sides  of  it  of  a  far  lower  building  than  the 
front.     And   in  all   the  four  corners  of  that  court, 
10 fair  staircases  cast  into°  turrets  on  the  outside, °  and 
not    within    the   row   of   buildings    themselves;     but 
those  towers  are  not  to  l^e  of  the  height  of  the  front, 
but    ratiier    projjortionable    to    the    lower    building. 
Let  the  court  not  be  paved,  for  that  striketh  up  a 
15 great    heat   in  suimner,   and   much   cold   in  winter: 
but  only  some  side  alleys,°  with  a  cross,°  and  the 
quarters  to  graze, °  being  kept  siiorn,  but  not  too  near 
shorn.     The  row  of  retiirn  on  the  banquet  side,  let 
it  be  all  stately  galleries;   in  which  galleries  let  there 
20  be   three,  or  five,   fine  cupolas   in  the  length  of  it, 
placed  at  equal  distance,  and  fine  coloured  windows 
of  several  works.     On  the  household  side,  chambers 
of  presence^  and  ordinary  entertainments,  with  some 
bed-chambers;    ami  let  all  three  sides  be  a  double 
25  house, °   without   through   lights   on    the   sides,   that 
you  may  have  rooms  from  the  sun.  both  for  fore- 
noon and  afternoon.     Cast°  it   also  that  you  may 
have  rooms  both  for  summer  and  winter;    shady  for 
summer,    and    warm    for    winter.     You    shall    have 
30 sometimes  lair  iiuuses  so  full  of  glass,  that  one  can- 


KSSAYS  Oh'  <  nrxst:Ls  civil  Axn  moral     \^>7 


not  toll  where  to  hpcomo"  to  ho  (MU  of  tho  sun  or  coM. 
j'or  ombowod  windows^  I  hold  tlioni  of  uood  uso  (in 
cirios.  indeod,  uprio;ht  do  liottor,  m  rospoct  of  tho 
uniformity  towards  tho  stroot),  for  thoy  ho  protty 
rotirins  places  for  f(Mif(M-onoo;  and  besides,  they  5 
kecj)  both  the  wind  and  sun  off,  for  thai  which  would 
strike  almost  through  the  room  doth  scarce  pass  tho 
winthnv.  But  let  them  be  ))ut  few,  four  in  the  court, 
on  th(^  sides  only. 

Beyond  this  court  let   there  be  an  inward  court,  in 
of  the  same  square  and  hei<iht,  which  is  to  be  en- 
vironed with   the  .i^arden  on   all  sides:    and  in   the 
inside  cloistered  on  all  sides  upon  decent  and  beau- 
tiful arches,  as  high  as  the  first  story.     On  the  under 
storv,  towards  the  garden,  let  it  be  turned  to  a  grotto,  ir. 
or  place  of  shade  or  estivation,  and  only  have  open- 
ing and  windows  towards  the  garden;    and  be  level 
upon  the  floor,  no  whit  sunk  under  ground,  to  avoid 
all  dampishness.     And   let   there  be   a   fountain,   or 
some  fair  work  of  statuas,  in  the  midst  of  this  court,-!) 
and   to  lie   pavod°  as  the  other  court   was.     These 
buildings  to  be  for  privy  lodgings  on  both  sides,  and 
the  end  for  privy  galleries;    whereof  you  nmst  fore- 
,>iHN°  that  one  of  them  be  for  an  iniirmary,  if  the 
prince  or  any  special   person  should  be  sick,  withj.i 
chambers,  bed-chamber,  antecamera°  and  recamera° 
joining  to  it.     This  upon  the  .second  story.     Upon 
ihe  ground-story. °  a  fair  gallery,  open,  upon  pillars; 
;uid  upon  the  third  story.°  likewise,  an  open  gallery 
upon  pillars,  to  take  the  prosv)ect  and  freshness  of  the;i«i 


JJ 


J 58    ASSAYS  on  (jorxsKLs  civil  axd  moral 

i:;ar(Ien.  At  both  roriiors  of  the  further  side,  hy  way 
of  return,  let  there  l)e  two  deHrate  or  rich  eabinets. 
daintily  paved,  riehly  lian«i;ed.  glazed  with  rrystal- 
line  glass,  and  a  )'ieh  euj)ola  in  the  midst;  and  all 
5 other  elegaiu'V  th-it  may  be  thouglu  upon.  In  the 
upper  gallery,  too,  I  wish  that  tiiere  may  l)e,  if  the 
place  will  yield  it,  some  fountains  running  in  div(M"s 
places  from  the  wall,  with  some  fine  avoifhuices.'^ 
And   thus   much   for   the   mod(>l  of  the  palace,  save 

10 that  you  must  have,  before  you  come  to  the  front, 
thnw^  courts:  a  green  court  j)lain,  with  a  wall  about 
it;  a  second  court  of  the  same,°  but  more  garnished, 
with  little  turrets,  or  rather  embellishments,  up(»n 
the  wall;    and  a  third  court,  to  make  a  square  with 

15  the  front,  but  not  to  be  built, °  nor  yet  enclosed  with 
a  naked  wall,  but  enclosed  with  terraces,  leaded  aloft, 
and  fairly  garnished,  on  the  three  sides;  and  clois- 
tered on  the  mside  with  pillars,  and  not  Vvith  arches 
below.     As  tor  offices,   let    them  stand   at   distance, 

20 with  some  low  galleries  to  j)ass  from  them  to  the 
palace  itself. 

XLVl.    OF  (;ardkns 


God  Almighty  first  jilanted  a  garden";  and,  in- 
deed, it  is  the  purest°  of  human  pleasur(>s.  Jt  is 
the  greatest  refreshment  to  the  spirits  of  man.  with- 
snout  which  buildings  and  palaces  ar<^  but  gross  handy- 
works;  and  a  man  shall  ever  se(»  that  when  ages 
grow  to  civility"  and  elegancy,  men  come  to  build 


ESSAYS  on  cnrxsKLs  run.  .i.v/>  moral 


159 


stately  sooner  thai)  to  pmleu  linely.  as  il"  .liardcning 
,\(-iv  tlie  gr{?at('r  iKM-foction.     1  do  hold  it.  in  the  royal 
..rderhi^  of  j^ardens,   there  ou<2;ht   to  be  gardens  for 
;ill    the    nionths    in    the   year;     in    whieh.   severally, 
ihin.iis  of  beauty  may  he  then  in  season.      For  Decern- r. 
lu-r  and  January,  and  the  latter  part  of  X(.v(>Tnl)er. 
y.u  must  take  sueh  thiiigs  as  are  j-reen  all  winder: 
h,,llv.  ivy.  bays,  juniper,  ey press-trees,  yew.  })inea}>i)le 
lives. °  fir-trees,  rosemary,  lavender.  j)eri\vinkle   (the 
white,   tlu^   jnirple,  and   the   blue),  jiermander.  (la^s.  k 
orange-trees,    lemon-trees,    and    myrtles   (if   tney   be 
.t()ved°),  and   sw  .;^    marjoram,    warm    set.^     There 
f,,lloweth     for      ..       latter     part    of     January     and 
1  cbruary.   the  erion-tr(>e.   wliieh   then  blossoms; 

crocus  vermis,     i.a  the  yellow  and  the  firey  ;    prim- ir. 
roses.  anemoiKN.  the  early   tulip,  hyacinthus  orien- 
talis.  chamairis.  fritellaria.      For  March,  there  come 
violets,    specially    the    sin^l(>    blue,    which    are    the 
earliest  ;    the  yellow  daffodil,  the  daisy,  the  almond- 
tree  ill  blossom,  the  peach-tree  in  blossom,  the  cor--.'(t 
nclian-tree  in  blossom,  sweet-briar.     In  April  follow 
tli(>   double   white    violet,    the   walKlower.    the   stock 
liillillower,   the  cow.slij).   flower-de-luces  and   lilies  of 
all   natures,  rosemary-flowers,   the  tulip,   the  double 
peony,    the    pale   daifodil.    the    French    honeysuckle, -r. 
the  cherry-tree  in  blossom,  the  damaseene  and  })lum- 
trees  in  blossom,   the  whitethorn   in   leaf,   the   lilae- 
ire(>.     \\\    May    and    June    come    pinks   of   all   sorts, 
si.cially   the  blush   pink;    roses  of  all   kinds  except 
the  musk,  which  comes  later;    honeysuckles,  straw- :'-i 


101)      ESSAYS   on   ((trXSKLS   CIVIL    AX  It   MORAL 


berries;,  bugloss.  colinnbiiie,  the  French  nuirigoki, 
flos  Africa  nils;,  clierrv-tree  in  fruit.  ribes,°  figs  in 
fruit,  rasps,  \ine-f  lowers,  la  vernier  in  flowers,  tli. 
sweet  satyrian,°  -vvitii  the  white  flower,  herba  nius- 
Scaria,  liliuni  con\  allium,  the  apple-tree  hi  blossom. 
In  July  coine  gilliflowers  of  all  varieties,  musk-roses, 
the  hnie-tree  in  blossom,  early  pears  and  plums  in 
fruit,  ginniti'igs,  quadhns.  In  August  come  phuns 
of  ail  sorts  in  fruit,  pears,  apricocks,  barberries,  fil- 

10  herds,  musk-melons,  monkshoods  of  all  colours.  In 
September  come  grapes,  appies,  poppies  of  all  colours, 
peaches,  ineiocotones,°  nectarines,  cornelians,  war- 
dens, (luinces.  In  October,  and  the  beginning  ol 
November,    come   services,    medlars,    bullaces,    roses 

15  cut  or  removed  to  come  late,  hollyoaks,  and  such 
like.  These  particulars  are  for  the  climate  of  Lon- 
don; but  my  meaning  is  perceived,  that  you  may 
have  vcr  pirpdnum"  as  the  place  affords. 

And  Ix'cause  the  breath  of  flowers  is  far  sweeter 

20 in  the  air  (where  it  conies  and  goes  like  the  warbling 
of  music)  than  in  the  haiul,  therefore  nolhing  is  more 
fit  for  that  delight  than  to  know  what  be  the  flowers 
and  plants  that  do  best  perfume  the  air.  Roses, 
damask  and  red,  are  fast°  flowers  of  their  smells,  so 

iiothat  you  may  walk  by  a  whole  row  of  them,  and  find 
nothing  of  their  sweetness;  yea,  though  it  be  in  a 
morning's  dew.  Bays  likewise  yield  no  smell  as  they 
grow;  rosemary  little,  nor  sweet  marjoram.  That 
whi.,  h,  above  all  otluTs,  yields  the  sweetest  smell  in 

;H)the  air  is  tlie  violet,  specially  the  white  double  violet, 


ESSAYS   OR   COrXSKLS   CIVIL   JXI>   MORAL      UM 


Which  comes  twice  a  ye:r,  about  the  middle  of  Ajiril, 
ami  about  Bartliolome\v-tide.°     Next  to  tlud   is  the 
nm.sk-rose°;    tlien  tlie  strawberry  leaves  dyiu*--,  with 
a  most  excellent  cordial  smell;    then  the  flower  of  the 
^.j„(»^^  — it  is  a  little  dust,  like  the  dust  of  a  bent,°-) 
which  throws  ui:K)n  the  cluster  in  the  first  comin.si:  forth; 
then  sweet-briar;    then  wallflowers,  which  are  very 
,]( lightful  to  be  set  mider  a  park^ur  or  lower  cham])er 
window;    then   pinks   and  siHi^^'^^^'^''"^'  specially    the 
matted  pink  and  clove  ^illifiowcM-;    then  the  flowers  i(i 
of  the  lime-tree;    then  the  honeysuckles,  so  they  be 
somewhat   afar   off.     Of   bean-flowers    I    sjjcak   not, 
b(>cause  they  are  field  flowers.     Hut  thos(>  v.hich  per- 
fume the  air  most  delishtf'dly,  not  i»assed  l)y  as  the 
rest,  but  beunj?  trodden  ui)on  and  crushed,  are  three:  i.i 
that  is,  burnet,  wild  thyme,  and  watermints;    there- 
fore you  are  to  set  whole  alleys°  of  them,  to  have 
the  pleasure  when  you  walk  or  tn^id. 

For°  gardens  (speakinp:  of  tlK)se  which  are  indeed 
prince-like,  as  we  have  done  of  I)uildin»i  \  the  con- 211 
t(>nts   oujiht   not   well   to   Ik^   und(M-   thirty   acres  of 
irround,  and  to  be  divided  into  tln-ee  i)arts:   a  green 
ill  the  entrance,  a  heath  or  descit,  in  tlu^  goinjr  forth, 
and  the  maui  garden  in  the  midst.  l)esides  alleys  on 
both  sides.     And  I  like  well  that  four  acres  of  ground  •r. 
be  assigned  to  the  green,  six  to  the  heath,  four  and 
four  to  either  side,  and  twelve  to  the  main  garden. 
The  green  hath  two  pleasures:  the  one,  because  noth- 
ing is  more  pleasant  to  the  ey(^  than  groon  grass  kept 
finely  shorn;    the  otluM'.  because  it  will  give  you  a  ;«i. 

M 


M 


UVJ    j':ssAys  or  ((jixskls  civil  an  it  moral 

tair  alloy  in  tlio  niidst,  by  wliicii  you  may  <:;()  in  front 
upon  a  stately  hcd^e,  which  is  to  (micIoso  the  <>;ar(lpn. 
Hut  bocauso  tho  alloy  will  bo  lon^.  and,  in  ^roat  h(>at 
of  the  year  or  day,  you  oufiht  not  to  buy  tho  shade 
".in  tho  garden  by  »»;oin«i;  in  th(^  sun  through  the  «z;reon. 
therefore  you  are,  of  either  side  tho  ^\Tin\,  to  j)lant 
a  eovert°  alley  upon  carpenter's  woik,  at)out  twelve 
foot  in  hoi;i>:ht.  by  which  you  may  ^u  in  shade  into  the 
garden.     As  for  tho  making-  of  knots°  or  fi^in-os  with 

10 divers  coloured  earths,  that  they  may  lie  under  the 
windows  of  the  house  on  that  side  which  tin*  pu-deii 
stands,  they  be  but  toys°:  you  may  see  as  ^ood  sights 
many  times  in  tarts.  Tho  pu'don  is  best  to  bo  s(]uar(\ 
encompassed   on   all    tho   four  sides   with   a  stately 

15 arched  he(l,<re°;  tho  arches  to  bo  upon  pillars  of  car- 
penter's work  of  some  ten  foot  hijrh,  and  six  foot 
broad,  and  tho  spaces  between  of  tho  same  dimen- 
sion with  tho  breadth  of  the  arch.  Over  tho  arches 
lot  there  bo  an  entiro°  hed«ie  of  some  four  foot  hi<>h. 

liofratnod  also  ui)on  carpenter's  work;  and  ujKm  the 
upj)or  hed<>o,  over  every  arch,  a  little  turret  with  a 
belly,  enou<i;h  to  receive  a  ca<i:e  of  birds;  and  over 
every  s})aco  between  the  arches  some  other  littl(> 
figu.ro,  with  broad  plates  of  round  coloured  glass,  gilt 

LMfor  the  sun  to  play  ui)on.  liut  this  hedge  I  intend 
to  be  raised  U[)on  a  bank,  not  stooj)  l)ut  gently  slope, ° 
of  some  six  foot.  h-A  ;ill  with  flowers.  Also,  I  untlor- 
stand  that  this  scpiaro  of  tho  garden  should  not  be 
tho  whole  breadth  of  tlio  ground,  but  to  leave  on 

:«)  either  side  gn)und  enough  for  diversity  of  side  alleys, 


ESSAYS   on   ((XWSELS   CIVIL    AXl>    MORAL 


1G3 


„„to  whic-li  tho  two  covert  all(>ys  o    tlu-  ^roon  nin> 
Miv(>r  vou.     Hut  tlioro  must  bo  no  alleys  with  IuhI^os 
,,    ,.ithor  011(1   of   this  firoat   ouolosuro:    not   at    the 
'l.ithor  oiul.  for  lottinj^°  your  prospect  upon  this  fair  _ 
,,,.loo  from  the  f^reon;    nor  at   the  further  eiu  .    or. 
l,,ttm,ir  your  prospc-et   from  the  hodf^o.  throuj^h  the 

ircho.-,  upon  the  heath.  .  ,  •      .,  f 

'    For  the  ordering  of  the  p-cmul  withm  the  ^reat 
lH.,hi,^  I  l(>ave  it  to  variety  of  devi.v;  aavismij.  never- 
,h,.lrss.  that  whatsoever  form  you  east   it   into,  hrst  in 
;,  ,,,  „ot  to(»  husv°  or  full  of  work.     Wherein  I,  for  my 
,,,,,    ao  not  like  ima-es  out  out  in  juniper  or  other 
I:,.len    stulT,-they    he    for    ehiklren.      l.ttle    low 
h;',!..vs  ror.nd  like  welts,°  with  some  piTtty  pyramids 
1  like  w(41;    and  in  some  places,  fair  colunms  uponio 
f,,unes  of  carpenter's  work.     1  would  also  have  the 
,lK>vs    siiacious    and    fair.     You    may    have    closer 
'..llevs  upon  the  side  grounds,  but  none  m  the  mam 
;,,,den.     I  wish  also,  in  the  very  middle  a  fair  mount, 
;ith   three   ascents   and   alleys,   enou,udi   h.r   four   to  >0 
,,,1U   abreast;    which    I    would   have   to   i-   IKM-fc^e 
,Hcl(>s°  without  anv  ))iilwarks  or  emlx.ssnu  nts,  and 
,lH.  whole  mount  to  be  thirty  foot  hi^di;    and  some 
,,„,  banqueting  houscN  with  some  chimneys    iH>atly^^_ 
cast,  and  without  too  much  jilass.-  ,      .      ,    "' 

l.'or  fountains,  they  are  a  pvat  beauty  and  refresh- 
ment; but  pools  mar  all,  and  make  the  jrardon  un- 
.vholJsomo,  and  full  of  Hies  and  fro.s.  fountains 
i  inirnd  to  be  of  two  natures:  the  one  that  sprn^k- 
l.th  or  spouteth  water;    tlie  other  a  fair  receipt     ol  .- 


m^ 


104      E^SSAYS   OH   COCXSKLS   CIVIL   AXI)   MORAL 

water  of  some  thirty  or  forty  foot  .square,  but  witli- 
out  fish,  or  shme,  or  mud.     For  the  first,  the  orna- 
ments of  ima-es  -iit.  or  of  marble,  which  are  in  us(., 
(io  well;    but  the  main  matter  is  so  to  etmvey  the 
5 water  as  it  never  stay  either  in  the  bowls  or  in  the 
cistern,  tliat  the  water  be  never  bv  rest  diseoloured 
green  or  ivd,  or  the   like,  or  gather  anv  mo.>sine.s 
or  putrefaKi,)!!.     I^esides   that,   it  is  to  be  eleans.«,l 
every  day  by  the  hand.     Also  some  steps  up  to  if,  an.i 
losome  hue  pavement  al)out  it.  doth  well.     As  for  th(> 
otlKM-  kind  of  fountain,  which  we  may  call  a  bathing 
pool.  It  may  admit  much  curiositv  and  beautv,  where'^ 
witli  we  will  not  trouble  ourselves :  as  that  the'bottom 
be  hnely  j>aved.  and  with  images;   the  sides  likewise- 
15  and  withal  embellished  with  coloured  glass,  and  siuli 
things  of  lustre;    encompassed  also  with  fine  rails  of 
low  statuas.     Jiut  the  main  point  is  the  same  which 
we  mentioned  m  the  former  kind  of  fountain:  which 
IS,  thac.  the  water  be  in  jxTpetual  motion,  fed  bv  a 
ii(>  water  higher  than  the  pool,  and  delivered  into  it' by 
fair  spouts,  and  then  discharged  awav  undergrounJi 
by  some  equality  of  bores°  that  it  stav  little.     An<l 
for  fine  devices  of  arching  water  without  spillin^r,  and 
making  it  i-isc  in  several  forms  (of  featluTs,  drinkin<r 
-•..glasses,  canopies,  and  the  like),  thev  be  prettv  things 
to  look  on.  but  nothing  to  health  and  sweetness. 

For  the  heath,  wliich  was  the  third  part  of  our 
plot,  I  wish  it  to  be  framed,  as  much  as  may  be   to 
n  natural  wildness.     Trees.  I  would  have  none  in  it 
■■^•but    some   thickets   made   onlv    of  sweet-briar   and 


^SmSSSS^SM 


ESSAYS   Uli   rorXSKLS   ilVll.    .1A7>    MnUM. 


10;' 


houeveuckle.  iiud  some  wild  viiu'  amctiost ;    an.l  the 
.round  set  with  violets,  ^.trawherrios.  an-l  ])niiiroses 
f„r  those  are  sweet  aiui  prosper  in  the  sluule;    an(i 
these  to  be  in  the  heatli  here  ami  there,  iH.t  ni  any 
..nier      I  like  also  little  lieaps  in  the  nature  of  niole-5 
h,lW   such  as  are  in  wild  lu^aths.  to  be  se^  s.nne  ^vlth 
wild  thvnie.°  some  with  pinks,  some  with  ,ii(M-n.ander, 
ilnt  '-ives  a  j?ood  Hower  to  th.e  eye,  sonic  with  peri- 
svinkle,  some  with   violets,   some  with  strawbornes. 
<onie   with  eowslii)s,   some  with   daisies,  some  with  W 
,,hI  roses,  some  with   lilium  eonvalhum,  some  with 
sweet   Williams  red.  some  with  bear's  foot,  and  the 
like  low  flowers,  beinu;  withal  sweet  and  si<:htly       I  art 
c,f  which  heaps  to  be  with  standards  of  httl.^  bushes 
„ricked°    upon    their    top,    and    part    without.      Ihel., 
standards  to  be  roses,  juniper,  holly.  barlxTries  (but 
here  and  there,  because  of  the  snu'll  of  their  blossom), 
re<l    currants,    -ooseberries.    rosemary,    bays,    sweet- 
l>nar,  and  such  like;    but  these  stundards  to  be  kept 


LHI 


with  cutting  that  they  grow  not  out  ot  e.Mirse 

For   the  side  -roun<ls.  you   an-   to   till   them  with 
varietv  of  allevs  private,  to  give  a  full  shade,  sonu- 
i,f  them,  wheresoever  the  sun  be.     \  ou  are  to  frame 
some  of  them  likewise  for  shelter,  that  when  the  wind 
blows  sharp  vou  may  walk  as  in  a  gallery.     Aiul  those  i. 
■illeys  must  be  likewise  hedged  at  both  ends  to  keep 
out'  the  wind,  and  these  closer  alleys  must  be  evt>v 
tiiielv  gravelled,  and  no  grass,  because  of  going  wet. 
In  many  of  these  allevs,  likewise,  ycni  are  to  set  b  uit 
trees  of' all  sorts,  as  well  upon  the  walls  as  in  ranges.  'M 


IGG 


KSS.iYS   i,Ii  (orXSKLS   ilViL    AM,   Moh'Al. 


And  tins  woul.r  l>(.  -onorally  ol.scrvod.  (hat  tlH>  ho, 
(Uts  whoHMn  you  plant  y(,ur  fruit   tivrs  I„.  fair  an.l 
ar^^o.   and    low.   an,i    not   st(v,,;    and   s,>t    with    fin. 
Owors,   but   thin  and  sparingly,   h-st   th(>v  (h.-oiv,- 
•'   i'otroes.     Atthocndofhoththcsi.lr^rnnHidsIwouM 
have  a  mount  of  sonic  protty  hcM^ht ;   l.avino-  th..  wall 

fieldr  "''''^  '^'"''^'^  ^''-'''  ^^*  ^^'^>J^  abroad  into  tl„. 

For  tho  main  li-arden,  I  d(.  m>t  donv  but  then- 
.0  ould  be  s<,me  hur  allc-ys,  ranged  on  both  sidc-s  with 
tnnt  trees  and  son.e  pretty  tufts  of  fruit  (re(>s  a-i.j 
arbours  with  seats  set  in  soni(>  d(vent  order;  but  t  h('... 
to  be  by  no  means  set  too  tliiek.  i,ut  to  leave  th. 
main  oarden  so  as  it  be  not  close,  but  the  air  open  and 
^.ro(^     lM>rasiorshacle.Iwouldhaveyoures'to,; 

he  alleys  ot  the  side  .rounds,  there  to  walk,  if  vou 

bo  disposed,  in  the  heat  of  the  v.^ar  or  dav;    bui  t.. 

make  aee(,unt  that  tlu>  main  oanlen  is  for  tlu^  moiv 

temperate  parts  of  the  year,  and  in  the  hvM  of  sum- 

-x.mer  for  the  morning-  and   tlu>  evenino-.  or  ou.vasi 

(lays. 

For  aviari(>s,   I   like  them  not.  exe(>pt  tlun-  b(>  of 

hat  lai^eness  .is  th(>y  may  Ik.  turte,|.  and  have  livin- 

plants  and  bushes  set  in  them,  that   the  birds  niav 

•-' have  more  scope  and  natural  nestlino-,  and  that  no 

toulness  appear  m  the  floor  of  the  ax-iary 

pa  tly  by  precept,  partly  by  drawino-,  „ot  a  mode!, 
bnt  sonie  ^^enera!   Imes^^  of  it;    and   in   this  1   have 
.«)spared    for   no   cost.     Hut    it    is    nothino-   f,..-   u,va 


■B^BBB 


KSSAYS   OK   ror.V.SAAN   </l7/.    .I.V/>    M<>li.\I.      Uu 

))rin('{'S.  ihat  for  tlic  most  pjirt  takinir  advice  with 
workmen,  \vitli  no  less  cost  set  their  tliin.us  together; 
,111(1  sometimes  add  statuas  and  sucli  things  for  state 
•iiid  magnificence,  but  nothing  to  the  true  pleasure 
of  a  garden.  8 


XLVII.     OF    NKflOTIATIXO 

Ir  is  generally  belter  (o  deal   by  specM-li   than  by 
letter,  and   hy  tli(>  mediation'^  of  a  third  than  by  a 
man's   self,      betters   ar<>   good    wIumi    a    nian    would 
draw  an  atiswer  by  letter  back  again:  or  when  it  may 
vrrvr  for  a  man's  juslilication  afterwards  to  produce  id 
his  own  Iett<'r;    or  where  it  may  be    i.n.ger^  to  be  in- 
tcrrupte<l  or  heard  by  |)ieces.     To  deal    in   ))erson  is 
liood  when  a  man's  face°  breedeth  regard,  as  com- 
iii-mly  with  inft>riors;    or  in   tend(M-°  cases.  wluM-e  a 
man's  eye  upon  the  countenanc*    of  h'ln  with  whom  \^^ 
\\v  speak(>th  \-v<\\  give  him  a  direction  how  far  to  go; 
and  g(>nerally   where  a   man   will   reserve   to  himself 
liberty.  (Mther  to  disavow"  or  to  expound. ° 

111  choice  of  instriunents  it  is  b(>tter  to  choose  men 
(.f  a  plainer  sort,"  that  are  like  to  do  that  that  is  com--j(i 
mitted  to  them,  and  to  reixH't  back  again  faithfully 
th(>  suc(i-ss,°  than  those  that  are  cumiing  to  contrive 
out  of  other  men's  l)usin(^ss  somewhat  to  grace  them- 
selves, and  will  help°  the  tnatter  in  report  for  satis- 
faction sake.  I'se  als(>  such  persons  as  affecf^  the-j."! 
business  wherein  they  are  emi)loyed,  for  that  (luicken- 


M 


i 


J(i.S      ASSAYS   on   ro'  XSKLS   (J,/        l.\i>   M(HLiI. 


etii  niucli;  niid  such  ;is  arc  fit  for  the  ni;itr(  :■:  ns  hold 
inofi  tor  <'\p()stul;ifi()ii,  fair-spokcti  n\o\\  for  jx  '^iiasic!!, 
r-raftv  iiicii  for  iiK^iirx  nnd  obscrx  ation.  frow  ard  and 
al^surd"  iiKMi  for  l)usin('ss  that  doth  not  well  hear  on!  '' 
r.  iisch".  I  s<'  also  such  as  hav(>  hoc?)  hicky  and  prevailed 
hcfo!-('  in  ihitiii>  wherein  you  iiave  (MUployed  th"ni: 
for  thai  l)reeds  conlideiiee,  and  they  will  s!;i  c  tn 
maintain  their  j)rcscription.'^ 

It    is    hitler   to   soiuid   ;i    person   with   whom   on* 

lodeals.  afar  orf,  than  to  fall   upon  the  point  ;it   first: 
except    you    mean    to   surjirise    I  im    by    some    dioj- 
question.      It  i-  bettt;  dealiuii;  with  men  in  aftpetit< 
than  with  those  that  are  where  they  would  be.      If 
a  man  deal  with  another  upon  conditions,  the  start° 

ir.  or  first  i)erfo»  niance  is  all ;  which  a  inan  caimot  reason- 
ably domar.d.  except  eitluT  tiie  nature  of  the  thing  be 
such  which  must  go  before :  or  else  a  man  can  persuad 
the  other  party  that  he  shall  still  need  him  in  some 
other  thing;    or  else  that  h(^  be  c(»(mted  the  honest 

•JO  man. 

All    practice°    is    to    discover  to    work.     Meii 


discover^    themselves    in    trust,    iii    passion,    at 


il' 


awares;    and   of   necessity-,   when    they   would      h<- 
oomewhat    done,    and    cannot    find      n    apt    preiex  . 

L'.jlf  you  would  work  any  man,'^  you  leus;  either  ki     v 
his   nature  and  fashions,   and   so  lead   liim;    or 
ends,   and   so  persuade   him;    or   Ids  weakness 
disadvantages,  and  so  awe  him:    or  \h(.<i^  that  have 
interest  in  him,  and  so  govern  him.     In  deeding  with 

80  cunning  persons,,  we  must   ever  consider  t  aeir  ends 


■BHHbiMaiiiilllH 


/•S.S.I )-.s  <>H     <u  ss /  i.s  '-ii  n.    \.\ 


h;«j 


.  iiitcriirrt'"  tlwir  -|)e«'(*lios.    :ui'! 
I    lie  to  llioni.  and    'h.t        H      i   t 
ill    all    iieiiotiahons     <(   u.  '     ilfy 
look    to  ^(>w    ai!''    r<    '•   a     oi  '•«■ 
basine^  ,  uik;  sc    -iiK'U  iL  b,.  degr 


a; 
l<';i  fi)|- 

ii,!i     may    not 
ui   mubt   piej)are 


XLVIII.     OF    H>LI.    \V':i 


\\ii    FHIKXDS 


("nSTJ.Y 


illowors    .lie 

tt. 


R"  h     ti;    k'sl  while 
he  111    kcth  his  \^  ii»»;s 


rlial'i 

j)oi'  ; 


ie 


llOi 

..  iri:^     uiak  n,     i-  tr;      '  loi.^ 
-liorif         I  r*'-k«H    to  l>    '-ost!     iiot  ihcin  alone  w  iiich 
the         "-e        It        iich  are  wearisome  and  im- 
^^'     ■'•     -!iii>      Oidiisary     followers    oniih!     to  in 
cliai  '  !  ,iie'^    11'    »      ht-r   CO      ilio:-;    tlum   eounteiKi.u'e. 
i(coii    nen<hiti"i     and  i)ioi    •'         from  wron,us.     J"ac- 
lioas      'llowei>     in    worse         oe   lik(>d,  which   follow 
not    uj    'n   atV'    tion   \n   him   with   whom    they   ran<ie 
theinscives  hii     ipondiscontentment  conceived  ajiain-^t  ir. 
aerenpon  commonly  eiisueth   thai    ill 
■    .liat  we  may   many   times  see  between 
t^es.      Likewise  glorioiis°  followers,  who 
*'lves  as  trumpets  of  the  commendation 
y  follow,  are  full  of  inconvenience;    foriM 
business   throujih    want    of  secrecy,    and 
!    honour°  from   a   man,   and   make   him 
Pirn  iu  envy.     There  is  a  kind  of  follow er?>  like- 
e    which    are    dan«ierous,    beinjj:    indeed    espi;ds,° 
aich  iiKpiire  the  secrets  of  the  hr)use,  and  bear  tales 2a 
A  them  to  others.     Yet  such  men  many  timea  are  in 


>(■' 

If 

1     '" 

il< 

in 

. 

1C> 

'if. 

d 

;■- 

nia 

Ih 

I  if 

■V 

I 
ex 

170      ESSAYS   (Hi   (OrXSKLS   LI VI I,    AXl>    MOHM, 

Sreut  favour,  for  tlicy  arc  ollicious,^  and  comnionlv 
('X(*lian<!:('  tail's.  The  foll()\viii<i-  by  certain  estates' 
of  men  answerable  to  that  wiiicli  a  great  person  liiiu- 
self  f)rofessetli  (as  of  soldic^rs  to  iiim  that  hath  been 
^employed  in  the  wars,  and  the  hke)  hath  ever  been  a 
thinji  civil, °  and  well  taken  I'xcn  in  monarchies,  so  it 
be  without  too  much  j)omp°  or  j)()pul;irity.  But  the 
most  honourable  kind  of  following-  is,  to  be  followed  as 
one  that  apprehendeth  to°  advance  virtue  and  desert 
loin  all  sorts  of  persons.  And  yet  wh(>re  there  is  no 
euMuent  odds  in  sufficiency,  it  is  better  to  take  witli 
the  more  passai)le°  than  with  the  more  able.  And 
besides,  to  sj)eak  truth,  in  base  times  active  men  ari> 
of  more  use  than  virtuous. °     Jt  is  true  that  in  govern- 

ir.  mcnt  it  is  good  to  use  men  of  on^  rank  eijually:  for 
to  countenance  some  extraordinarily  is  to  make  them 
insolent,  and  the  rest  discontent,  because  they  mav 
claim  a  due.  Hut  contrariwise,  in  favour. °  to  use 
men  with  nmcli  difference  and  election  is  good:    for 

•2(1  it  m:  keth  the  persons  preferred  more  thankful,  and 
the  rest  more  officious;  because  all  is  of  favour.  It 
is  good  discretion  not  to  make  too  much  of  any  man 
at  tlie  first,  because  one  camiot  hold  out°that  propor- 
tion.    To  be  governed,  as  we  call  it,  by  one^  is  not 

'jr. safe,  for  it  shows  softness,  and  gives  a  freedom  to 
scandal  and  disreputation'';  for  those  that  would 
not  censiu-e  or  speak  ill  of  a  man  immediately,  will 
talk  more  boldly  of  thos(>  that  are  so  gr(>at  with 
th(>m,°  and   thereby  wound   their'^  honour.     Yet  to 

;i()be  distracted  with  many  is  worse,  for  it  makes  men 


liHfBilUaiiiMBlMi 


KSSAYS   OR  COrSSKLS   (  IVIL    .I.V/>   MOIi.lL      171 

,,,  1)0  of  the  last  iiiipivssion  aiul  full  (»f  cluinjio.  To 
take  advice  of  some  few  friends  is  evcM-  honourable, 
•for  lookers-on  many  times  see  mor(>  than  .nanu'sters. 
and  the  vale  best  iliseoveretl  the  hilk"  There  is 
little  friend8hip°  in  the  workl,  and  l(>ast  of  all  l)et\veen  r. 
('(juals,  whieh  was  wont  to  be  majinilied.  That  that 
is.  is  between  superior  and  inferior,  whose  fortunes 
may  comprehend^  the  one  the  other. 


XLIX.     OF    SITTORS 

Many  ill  matters  and  projects  are  mulertaken.  and 
private   suits   do    putrefy    the    public    i-ood.     Many  ki 
^M)()d   matters   are   undertaken   with    bad    nunds:     1 
mean  not  onlv  corrupt  minds,  but  crafty  minds,  that 
intend     not  'performance.     Some     embrace^     suit.s, 
which  never  mean  to  deal  effectually  in  them;    l)ut 
if  they  see  there  may  be  lite  in  the  matt(>r  l)y  some  i.i 
other  mean, °  they  will  be  content  to  win  a  thank  or 
take  a  second  reward,  or  at  least  to  make  use  in  the 
mean  time  of  the  suitor's  hojM's.     Some  take  hokl  of 
suits  only  for  an  occasion  to  cr(»ss  some  other;    or 
to    make    an    information    whereof    they    coukl    not -jo 
otherwise  have  apt  pretext,  without  care  what  become^ 
of  the  suit  when  that  turn  is  served;    or,  <r(>ne. ally^- 
to  make  other  men's  business  a  kind  of  entertainment" 
to  brins  in  their   own.     Nay,  some  undertake  suits 
with  a  ftill  puri)ose  to  let  them  fall,  to  the  end  to'il 
•gratify  the  adverse  party  or  competitor. 


172      ESSAYS   Oli   COUNSELS   CIVIL   AND   MORAL 


Surely  tliero  is  in  some  sort  a  riii,ht  in  every  suit. 
either  a  riirht  of  equity,  if  it  he  a  suit  of  eoutroversy ; 
or  a  ri^ht  of  desert,  if  it  l)e  a  suit  of  petition.  If 
affection  lend  a  man  to  favour  the  \vron<j:  side  in  jus- 

5  tice,  let  him  rather  use  his  countenanee°  to  compound 
the  matter  than  to  carry  it.  If  alTection  lead  a  man 
to  favour  the  less  worthy  in  desert,  let  him  do  it 
witiiout  d(^pravin<i;°  or  disal)lin^°  the  better  deserver. 
Jn  suits  which  a  man  doth  not  well  understand,  it  is 

loo-ood  to  refer  them  to  soni(^  fri(Mid  of  trust  and  judg- 
ment, thnt  may  report  whether  he  may  deal  in  them 
with  honour;  but  let  him  choose  well  his  referen- 
daries,°  for  else  he  may  be  led  by  tlie  nose. 

Suitors  are  sf)  distasted"^  with  delays"  and  abuses, 

ir>  that  ])lain  dealinii  in  (lenyin<!;°  to  deal  in  suits  at  first 
and  report injz;  the  success"  barely,  and  in  challenp;in<i;° 
no  more  thanks  than  one  hath  deserved,  is  ^ro.\n 
not  only  honourable,  but  also  gracious."  In  suits  of 
favour  the  first  coming^  ought   to  take  little  place; 

•20 so  far  forth  consideration  may  be  had  of  his  trust,'' 
that  if  intelligence  of  the  matter  could  not  otherwise 
have  been  had  but  by  him.  advantage*  be  not  taken 
of  tju>  note,"  but  the  party  left  to  his  other  means, 
and  in  some  sort  recomi)eiised  for  his  discovery."     To 

25 be  ignorant  of  the  value  of  a  suit''  is  sim|)licity,  as 
well  as  to  be  ignorant  of  the  right  thereof  is  want  of 
conscience 

Secrecy  in  suits  is  a  great  mean  of  o))taining;    for 
voicing"  them   to  be   in   forwarilness"  may  discour- 

;ioage   some   kind   of  suitors,   but    doth   (quicken   and 


KSSAYS   on   t'Or.V.SA'A^'   r/17/.    AM'    MnliAL      173 


awake  otlit'i'.s.  But  tiinu«.ii°  of  tlu'  suit  is  the  principal. 
riiiiiu^-.  I  say,  not  only  in  ivspoct  of  the  pei'son  that 
>luml(i  grant  it,  but  in  res}>ect  of  tliose  wliieh  are 
like  to  cross  it.  l^t  a  man,  in  the  clioice  of  his  mean," 
ratlier  choose  tlie  littest  mean  than  the  gn^atest  r. 
mean;  and  rather  them  that  tleal  in  cenain°  things 
than  those  that  are  general." 

Th(^   rej)aration  of    a    denial    is    sometimes    equal 
to    the    first   grant,  if  a  man  show  hitnself  neither 
tic   '(ted    lior    discontented.      "lniquum°   petas,   ut  w 
is  a    ii'ood    rule  where  a  man   hath 


a'Cjuum 


fer 


AS 


V 


trength  of  favour;  hut  otherwise  a  man  were  better 
!ise°  in  his  suit,  for  he  that  would  have  ventured  at 
tirst  to  have  lost  the  suitor,  will  not,  in  the  conclu- 
sion, lose  both  the  suitor  and  his  own  former  favour.^  15 

Nothing  is  thought  so  easy  a  retjuest  to  a  great 
person  as  his  letter'';  'kI  yet  if  it  be  not  in  a  good 
cause,  it  is  so  mucli  -  '.  of  his  re[)Utation.  There 
are  no  worse  instrun  .is  than  these  general  con- 
trivers°  of  suits:  for  they  are  l)Ut  a  kind  of  poison  and 20 
infection  to  public  })roceedings. 


L.     OF   STIDIES 

Studies  serve  for  delight. °  for  ornament,  and  for 
nbility.°     Their  chief  use  for  delight  is  in  privateness 
ajid  retiring'';    for  ornnment  is  in  discourse;  and  for 
ability  is  in  the  judgment  and  disposition  of  business,  ii 
For  expert °    men    c:in   ex(>cute,    and    perhaps   juilge 


174      ESSAYS   Oh'   COCXSJ'JLS   ilVlh   AX/t   MORAL 


of  j)arti('ulars.  one  by  one;    hut  the  ^'•(Mioral  counsels. 

and  the  })lot.s°  and  marshalling  of  ai'fairs,  eonie  best 

from  those  that   are   learned.     To  spend  too  much 

time  in  studies  is  sloth,  to  use  them  too  much  for 

a  ornament   is  affectation,  :o  make  judgment  only  bv 

their  i'ul(>s  is  the  humour^  of  a  scholar.     They  perfect 

nature,     and     are     ])erfected     by     experience.     For 

natural  abilities  are   like  natural   plants,   that  need 

})roynin<2;°  by  study;  and  studies  themselvt     do  gi\(> 

10  forth  directions  too  nuich  at  large, °  except  they  be 

l)()uniled    in    by    experience.     Crafty    men    contenui 

studies.  simj)le  men  admire  them,  and  wise  men  use 

them;   for  they  teach  not  their  own  use,  but  that  is 

a  wisdom  withouf^  them  and  above  them,  won  bv 

i.">  observation. 

Read  not  to  contradict  and  confute,  nor  to  believe 
and  tak(^  for  granted,  nor  to  find  talk  and  discourse, 
but   to  \\v\z\\   and   consider.^     Some    l)ooks    are    to 
be  tasted,  others  to  be  swallowed,  and  some  few  to 
L'dbe  chewed    and   digested:    that    is,  some   books   ar(> 
to  be  r(>ad  only  in  parts;    others  to  be  read,  but  not 
curiously";    and   some   few    to   be   read  wholly,  and 
with  diligence  and  attention.    Some  books  also  may  be 
reatl  by  deputy,  and  extracts  made  of  tliem  by  others; 
:;.'>i)ut  that  would  be  oidy  in  the  less  important  argu- 
ments and  the  meaner  sort  of  books;    else  distilled 
books    are    like    conunon    distilled    waters,    flashy° 
things.     IJeading  makeih  a  full  man,  conference"  a 
n^ady  man,  and  writing  an  exact  man.     And  there- 
v*\U)\-v  if  a  man  write  little,  he  had  need  have  a  great 


j':ssAYs  OR  corssKi.s  mil.  am)  moum.     175 

nioinory;  if  lio  confer  lit  tic  lie  had  lUH'd  haven  ])res(Mit° 
wit;  and  if  he  read  littl(>.  he  had  need  have  niucli 
ciiiminji;  to  seem  to  know  that  he  doth  not. 

Histories  make  men  wise.  |)0(>ts  witty, °  the  mathe- 
inatics  subtile,  natural  i)hiloso]>hy  deep,  moral  .urave.r) 
loiiic  and  rhetoric  ahle  to  contend.     ".\l)(iu)t  studia" 
in  mores."     Nay,  there  is  no  stoniP  or  imjx'diment 
ill  the  wit°  hut  may  Im^  wrought  out   by  fit  studies, 
like  as  diseases  of  the  body   may   have  apjH-opriate 
rxcrcises.     liowlinjr  is  ,<2;ood  for  the  stone  an<l  reins.  l(i 
^hootins  for  the  lun.^s  and  breast,  .uvntle  walkin«!;  for 
l!i(>  stomach,  ridin<i;  for  the  head,  and  the  like.     So 
if  a  man's  wit  be  wanderinu',  let  hiu)  study  the  matlu<- 
iiiutics;    for  in  demonstrations,  if  his  wit    be  called 
;i\vay  never  so  little,  h.e  must  be.iiin  a.iiain.     Jf  his  wit  ir. 
1)(>  not  apt  to  distinjiui.sh  or  find  dif1"erenf'(>s.  let  him 
study  the  schoolmen,"  for  they  are  vnminl  i<(rti>irfi° 
If  he  be  not  apt  to  beat  over°  matters,  and  to  call  uj) 
.nie  thint;  to  l^'ove  and   illustrate^  anoth(>r.  let  him 
^nidy  the  law.,  ers'  cases.     So  every  defect  of  the  mind  -'<• 
may  liave  a  special  receipt. 


LI.     OF    FACTION 

Many  have  an  opinion  not  wise,  that  for  a  prince 
to  irovern  his  estate, °  or  for  a  ^reat  person  to  ji;()V(Tn 
his  proceedings,  according;  to  the  resp(>ct"  of  tactions 


is  a  ])rincipal  part  of  i)olicy;    v.hereas.  "ontrariwisc.  ■ 
the  cliiefest  wisdom  is,  either  in  orderin^^  those  things 


17(»      IJSSAYS   OR   (  OlXSh'LS   CIVIL   AXI)   MORAL 


whioh  arc  *i(>n(M'aI.'^  and  wherein  men  of  several  fai- 
tionsdo  iieveiMlieless  ai^ree;  or  in  dealin.L!;  with  eorre- 
sj>on(len('e°  to  particular  persons,  one  by  one.  But  1 
say  not  that  the  considcn'ation  of  factions  is  to  l>f 
f)  nenleeled.  Mean  nien.°  in  their  risin<i,  nnist  adhen^'^: 
hut  ^?"eat  men.  I  hat  have  slicniith  in  themselves, 
wen*  better  to  maintain  thcmsi^lvtvs  indifferent  and 
neutral.  \o\  e\<Mi  in  Ix'uimi'Ms,  to  adhere  so  niod(>''- 
ately,  as  he  l)e  a  man  of  the  one  faction  which'  is 

inmost  passable'^  with  the  ofiier,  conmonly  ^ivc^th  be.-i 
way.  The  lower  and  weaker  faction  is  the  firmer 
in  conjunction;  and  it  is  often  seen  thai  a  few  th;'! 
are  stiff°  do  tin*  m\t  a  greater  mnnber  that  are  more 
moderate. 

1.5  When  one  of  the  factions  is  extinguished,  the  ii - 
maining  subdivideth  :  as  the  faction  between  i.ucnl- 
lus°  and  the  rest  of  liie  noliii  s  ni  the  Senate  (which 
they  called  OptimatcH^)  held  out  awhile  against  tiic 
faction    of    P»)mpey''^    and    Ca'sar";     but    when    the 

20  Senate's  authority  was  ])ulled  down.  Caesar  and 
Pompcy  soon  after  brake.  The  faction  or  party 
of  Antonius  and  Octavianus  Cu'sar,°  against  Brutus" 
and  ("as.-ius."  held  out  likewise  for  a  time;  but  wl;en 
Brutus  and  (  a.ssius  were  overthrown,  ihen  soon  after 

2.".  .\ntonius  and  Octavianus  brake  and  subdivided. 
These  examples  are  of  wars,  but  the  same  holdcth 
in  private  factions.  And  therefore  those  that  an- 
seconds^  in  factions,  do  many  times,  when  the  faction 
subdivideth.  prove  iirincipals;    but  many  times  also 

"«)they  pro\-e  ciphers  and  cashiered;   for  many  a  man's 


ASSAYS   OR  COi'XSKLS   clllL    A.\/>    Moi:\L      177 


r<t!viiilth   is  in  ()pi)ositioii,  and  when  thai   failetli  he 
liiowetli  out  of  use. 

ll   is  c'onunonly  seen  that   men  onee     laced,  take 
iu  \vith°  the  contrary  faction  to  that  by  which  they 
,'utcr:   thinkini--  ))ehke°  that  they  ha\<-  the  hrst  sure,.". 
;iiid  now  are  ready  for  a  new  purchase."'     Tlie  traitor 
1,1   faction    li,iilitly°   ^oeth    away    with    it:   for   when 
.natters  have  stuck  k)n.n  in  balancing,  tlie  winnin.i;  of 
M)nie  otie  man  castetii'^  tlieni,  r.nd  lie  ^vttelh  all  the 
ihanks.      The   even  carria:,^e"    Im  nvcrn   two  factions  lo 
nioceedeth  not  always  of  moderation.  !nit  of  a  trueness 
to  a  man's  self,°  with  end  to  make  use  of  i)()th.     ( Vr- 
laiiilv  hi  Italy  they  hokl  it  a  littU-  sus}H'ct°  in  popes, 
when  they  have  often  in  their  mouth  "  I'adre  com- 
mune,'"' and  take  it  to  be  a  sif^n  of  one  that  meanetliir. 
in  refer  all  to  the  greatness  of  hi^  own  house. 

Kiiif^s"    had    need    ))eware    how    they    si<le    them- 
selves, and  make  themselves  a-  of  a  faction  or  party; 
for  k'a^ues  within  the  state  art'  ever  pernicious  to 
monarchies:    for  they  raise  an  obr!,<iation  paramount 'jo 
to    obligation    of   sovereignty,    and    make    the    king 
"taiHiuam  umis°  e.\  nobis,"  as  was  to  be  s(,vn  in  tlie 
l(ajiue°   of   France.     When   factions   are   carried    too 
iiiiih  and  too  violently,  it   is  a  sijA'u  of  weakness  hi 
princes,    and    nmch    to    the    prejudice   l>olh   of   their-.-* 
authority    and    business.     The    motions    of    factkms 
u!!(ler   ki!!s;s  ouj»:ht    to   be   like   the   motions   (as   the 
astronomers  si)eak)  of  the  inferior  orbs;    which  may 
have  their  proper  motions,  but  yet  still  are  quietly 
carried  by  the  higher  motion  of  primam  mobile^        36 


I 


178      ASSAYS    oil   r(,l  XSKI.S   CIVIL    AXD    MORAi. 


l.ll.     OF    CKRIvMOXIKS    AND    RKSPPXTS 

Hi:  tlint  is  only  real  had  ncod  liavo  oxcccdin^  great 
parts  of  virtue,  as  the  stone  had  iieinl  to  be  rieh  that 
is  set  witliout  foil."  P>ut  if  a  man  mark  it  well,  it  is 
in  praise  and  eommendatioji  of  men.  as  it  is  in  gettin^s 
.".  ai;.|  gains.  For  the  proverb  is  true,  that  "light  gains 
make  h(>a\_\  i)urses;"  for  Ho-ht  gains  come  thick, 
whereas  great  come  but  now  and  then.  So  it  is  true, 
that  small  matters  win  great  comtnendation,  because 
th(  y  are  conlinually  in  use  and  in  note;  whei-eas  the 
10 occasion  of  any  great  \irtue  comet h  but  on  festivals. 
Therefore  it  doth  much  add  to  a  man's  reputation, 
and  is.  as  ()ueen  Isabella^  said."  like  perpetual  let- 
ters commendtitory."  to  have  good  forms. 

To  attain  them,  it   almost  sml.ceth  not  to  des})ise 

i.'ithem:    for  so  shall  a   man  observe  them  in  others; 

and   let    him   tru^t    him>elf  with   the  rest.     For  if  he 

labour  loo  much  \i\  express  them,  he  shall  lose  their 

grace,  which  is  to  be  natural  and  unaffected.     Some 

men's  behaviour  is  like  a   verse,  wherein  every  syl- 

'Jftlable    is    measuicd.     How    can    a    man    com|)relu>n(l 

ureat    matters  that    breaketh   his  mitid  too  much  to 

small   observations?     Xot    to   use  c(>remoiiies   at   all. 

is   to  teach  ofluM's   not   to  use  them  again, ^  and  so 

diminisiieth   icspect    to   himself;     especially    they   be 

'.'.■inot   to  be  omitted  to  strangers  and  formai°  natures: 

but    the    dwelling    uj)()n    them,    aii''    exalting    them 

abov(>  the  moon,  is  not  only  tvdiou.s,  but  doth  dimin- 


■aSm 


MHfP 


iMililfa 


KSSAYS   OH   cOCySKLS   (  IVll.    AM>    Moly.M.      17'.» 

,,!,  ilu'  f:.ithaiul  civ.lit  of  li'mllKil  spoiiks.  Aii.l  ccr- 
,.,inly  lluMvis  :i  kiinl  of  .•oi.\vyin,i^°  of  effectual  nii.l 
nnprintiiiii-^  passa-rcs  ainoi.^^st  complinuMils,  winch  is 
(.1  siimular  use,  if  a  man  can  liit  upon  it. 

Xmonjrst    a   man's   lu'crs.   a   man  sliall  W  sure  ol  r, 
fnmiliaritv;    and  tlu'ivfoiv  it  is  .liood  a  little  to  keep 
A'A\i\°     Amon.ust  a  mat\'s  inferiors  one  shall  be  sure 
of  reverence;    anil  therefore  it   is  ^n.od  a  little  to  he 
(••nuiliar.     He  tliat  is  too  much  in  anythi»i,i:.  so  that 
h,.  "iveth  another  occasi..n  of  satiety,  niaketh  himsclt  lo 
,.hcap.     To  api^lv  one's  self  to^  others  is  -ood ;    so  it 
1„.   with    demonstration    that    a    man    doth    it    uixrn 
ivuard.  and  not  upon  facility."     It  is  a  .nood  precept, 
..viierallv.  in  secondini.'"^^  another,  yet  to  add  somewhat 
Zi  o)    'sown:    as.  if  vou  will  .urant  his  oi/mion.  let  it  i.-. 
iH'Uii  some  distinction;  if  you  will  follow  his  motion, 
let   it   be  with  condition;    if  y<'»i   allow   his  counsel, 
let  it  he  with  alleuinii;  further  reason. 

Men  had  need  heware  how  they  be  too  perfect    m 
.•ompliments;    for  be  thev   n(«ver  so  sulii<-ient   other--'., 
wise    their  enviers   will   be  sure    >o  flive   them   that 
attri'bute,°    to    the    disadvanta-e    of    their    -ivater 
virtues.     It  is  loss  also  in  busin(>ss  to  i.e  too  lull  <•! 
re^l)ects°  or  to  b<'   ioo  curious^  in  observin-i   times 
and   opportun.ries.     Solomon°  saith,    "  He  that    con- '-V. 
sidereth  the  wind  shall  not  sow;    and  he  that  look- 
Hh  to  the  clouds  shall  not  reap."     A  w!s«>  man    will 
make  more  oi)iH)rtimities  than  ho  finds.     Men  s  beha- 
viour should    be  lik(^  their  appan^l:    not   too   strait 
or  point  device,'^  but  free  for  exercise  or  mot  ion.  ao 


160     hSSAYS  OH  (Orysi-ILS  (  n/L   axu  mohal 


LIII.     OF    PRAISE 

Praise  is  tlie  reflection  of  virtue:  but  it  is  as 
the  glass  or  body  whicli  giveth  the  reflection.  It' 
it  be  from  the  eonirnou  [)eo|)le°  it  is  eoninionh 
false  and  naiighl,  ami  rather  followeth  vain  person- 
•  than  virtuous:  fur  the  (v/nnnon  j)eo])l('  understatid 
not  many  exccilenf  virtues.  'J"he  lowest  virtues 
draw  j>raise  from  them;  the  middle  virtu«'s  work 
in  them  astonishment  or  ailmiration;  but  of  thr 
highest    virtues  they  have  no  sense  or  perceiving  af 

H>all:  but  shows  and  spaUs  cirfutihus  simihs^  serve 
best  with  them.  Certainly  fame  is  like  a  river  that 
beareth  up  things  light  and  swollen,  and  drowns  tliing< 
weighty  and  solid.  BiU  if  persons  of  (piality"  aul 
judgment  concur,  liien  it  is,  as  the  Scri|>ture^^  saith. 

ia"X()men°  bonum  i  istai"  ungueiui  fragrantis."  It 
lilleth  all  round  atx.iit  and  will  uol  ea>ily  away: 
for  the  odours  of  ointments  are  m.^re  diU'able  than 
those  of  flowers. 

There   be  so   m.Miy   false   points  of  praise,   that    a 

^»man  may  jusi  ,  Ik, Id  it  u  suspect. °  Som,'  praises 
proceed  merely  ..f  flattery:  and  if  hc°  be  an  ordinary 
flatterer  he  will  have  certain  common  attributes'' 
which  may  serve  ever\  man;  if  he  l>e  a  curming  fiai- 
terer  he  will  follow  the  arch-flatterer,  which  is  a  man's 

2r.self,  and  when'in  a  man  thinketh  best  of  himself 
tiierein  the  flatterer  will  uphold  him  inost;  but  if 
he  be  an  imjjudenl  Hutterer,  look  wherein  a  man  is 


h:ss.iYs  OK  t(>r\s/-:i.s  rniL  am>  m^wai.     ISl 


o   ,  _ 


,,„,-.rinMs  lo  hiiusolf  tlitit  lio  Is  iiiosi  dclVctivc.  Mtid  is 
,,,.,.t   out   of  coimlciKUKv''  ill   liiiiHcll".   lh;it    will   tlic 
i!:,M.'ivr  cntillr  liim  to  porfoivo.^  xpnta  confer ivnt in." 
NMiiip  pniiscs  com.-  of  .ijood  \v:sl«..>s  and  respects,  which 
;.  :,  lorni  <hic  in  civility  to  kiiit:^  mikI  liivat  i)orsons.r, 
LrnhniJo    />m /■/■/)« 7V.''    wlu'ti.    In-    iclliiiii    men    wh:it 
,|u.y  arc.  thcv  r(>|)ivs('nt  to  them  what  1  hey  should  l»<'. 
Sntiie    men    are    |)raised    maliciously    to    their    hurt, 
,i„.n'l)y    to   stir   envy    and    jealousy    toward^    them: 
l,<.i,H,nn'^  UiNiis  iuimicornm  Iniidautium  :    insomuch  m 
::.    it    was    a    ])roverl)'    amoniist    the    CrcH-ians    that 
•  hi'  that  was  praised  to  his  hurt  should  have  a  ))ush'^ 
,,.,.  upon  his  nose;"  as  we  say  that  a  blister  will  rise 
,,.,011  one's  tonmie  that  tells  a  lie.     Certainly,  moder- 
:it,"  praise,  used  with   oi)portunitv.  and    not    vultrar. "  1 
i<  that  which  doth   th«^  ffood.     Solomon°  saith.  "He 
that    praiseth   his  friend  aloud,   rising  oarl.v.  it  shall 
he    to    him    no    better    than    a    curse."     Too    nuich 
ninunifyin*,^   of   man    or    matter   doth    irritate"    eon- 
trndiction.  and    procmc  (Mivy  and   scorn.  -'•' 

To  praise  a  man's  st-lf.  cannot  he  decent  .'^  except 
it  he  in  rare  cases:  but  to  i)raise  a  inan's  office  or 
profession,  he  may  do  it  with  ^ood  orace.  and  with 
•"  kind  of  magnanimity. °     The  cardinals  of    Rome^ 

hich    are    theolo^nies"  and    friais    .and    schoolmen. °-_'.-. 

tive  a  phrase  of  notabU  contiMupt  an<l  scorn  towards 
rivil  business:  h.r  tiiey  call  all  temporal  bu.sines^ 
of  wars,  embassajies.  judicature,  and  other  einpl'»y- 
nients.  Mnrreriv°  which  is  "  under-.slierift'rios."  as  it 
ihev  were  but  matters  for  under-sheriffs  and  catch- .k 


w 

ha 


IHL'      k'SS.lYS   nu  rofXSh'LS  cil'IL   ASH  MORAL 

poles":  tlu>u.iih  iiKiny  times  those  iiiKler-siieriJTries 
do  more  <;()0(l  tliau  tlieir  lii^h  speciihitions.  St. 
I*aul.°  when  he  boasts  of  himself,  he  doth  oft  intor- 
hiee,  "  I  speak  like  a  fool;"  but  speaking  of  his  call- 
sing  lie  saith,  "  Magnilieabo°  apostolatiim  meiim." 


\A\.     OF    VAIN  CJLOKY 

It  was  pn^ttily''  devised  of  .Ksop°:  "'Tho  fly  ?iat 
upon  the  axle-tree  of  the  chariot-wheel,  and  said. 
'What  a  dust  do  I  raise!'"  So  are  there  some  vain 
persons   that,    whatso(>ver  j.:;oeth    alone. "^   or   movetli 

UMipon  greater  m(\uis,°  if  they  have  never  so  littlo 
hand  in  it,  they  think  it  is  they  that  carry  it.  Thov 
that  are  glorious"  must  needs  b(^  factious;  for  all 
bravery"  stands  upon  comparisojis.  They  must 
Jieeds    be   viol<>nt    to   make  good    their  own    viuuits. 

1.'.  Neither  can  tlu\v  be  secret,  and.  then>fore,  not  etfecT- 
uaP;  l)Ut,  according  to  the  l''reiich  j)roverl),  "  Beau- 
coup  de  bruit,  j)eu  de  fruit":  Much  bruit, °  little 
fruit.  Vet,  certainly,  there  is  use  of  this  quality  in 
civiP  affairs:    where  there   is  an  opinion   and  fanic 

iMto  be  created,  either  of  virtue  or  greatness,  these 
men  are  good  trumpeters.  Again,  as  Titus  Livius° 
noteth  in  the  c.-ise  of  Antiochus°  and  the  /Ktolians,° 
tluTe  are  sometimes  great  effects  of  cross  lies°;  as 
if  a   man"  that    negotiates  ))etween   two  princes,  to 

'.'.".draw  th(Mn  to  join  in  a  war  against  the  tiiird,  doth 
extol  the  forces  of  eitlier  of  them  al)()ve  measure,  the 


oO 


FSSAYS   OH   corS 


SKLS   CIVIL     I.V/'    MOliM'      ^^'^ 


•iM' 


1<) 


tlir    otluT.     Aiul    somctim 


iH.'Ui  aiul  niaii  r:us( 


ill   lli^ 


s    lie    lliat    (l«>als 
own  credit   willi 


li.  l)y  i>ivton(liii^  pval 


111   <•! 


tluT.     And  in  thoso,  an< 
tliat    soiiU'W 


cr  iii(('f('st°  tlian  lu>  luitli 
1  the  like  kiiuls,  it  oltcu 


Imt    is    produced    of    notliinu:  :• 


aiv  suHicicnt   to  i  -eed  opinion,  and     ,  '-iion 


'•  :'! 


>(  > 


l,,ll-     out 

lor  ii<"^ 

l.iiii'j.-  on  siil)stancc. 

1,1  nnlitarv   coniniaiidors°  and   soldiers   vai  : 
■„  .,11  essential  point;    ior  as  iron  sliarpeiis  n 
l,v  ol„rv°  <»ne  conraiie  sliarpcM.etii  anotiier.      In  ca-  -^  l" 
.;-•  "reat    enterprise   ui)()n   eiiarii-e   and   adventure,   a 
,..'„nposition^   of   ^lori.ms   natures  doth  put   lite  into 
i,H.;nc<s-     and    those    thai    are    of    s,.hd    an<     sol.er 
,,„n,vs  have   nu.re  <.f  the  l.aUast    than   ot    the  sail 
1„  ,„,.e  of  loarnin^  the  llijil  t   will  )h'  ^1'»nv.  witaoutin 
.une    leathers    of    ostentation.     "  C^ui    de^    conten;- 
n,,,da    gloria    lihn.s    scril.unt.    nonien    suuni    mscri- 
!,uut"     Socrates,-  Aristotle,"  CaLn,-'  were  men  iuil 
,.f  ostentation.     Certainly,  vain-huy  helpeth  to  per- 
.„„,,,,  .nau's  memory  :    an.l   virtue  was  never  so 20 
!„.h.,l,lin-°  t..  human  nature  as  it  recriv<>d  uis  due  at 
,h,.  second   hand.      Neither  had   the  fame  ol  (  icero 
SM.eca,°   IMinius  Secun.lus.°   borne  her  a.u'e  so  well. 
,1  it  had  not  been  joined  with  some  vanity  m  them-   ^ 
drives  -  like  unto  varnish,  that  makes  seelmgs    net  l,. 


(HI 


Iv  shine,  but  last 


But 

mean 


all  this  while,  when  1  si)eak  of  vai 


n-iilory,  1 


not   of   that  proper 


tv  that  Tacitus°  doth   at- 


tribute to  Mucianu^ 


Omnium,-  (pue  dixerat,  fecerat 


Ml 


.le,   arte   quadam   ostentator 


for   that    proceeds  ;•,( 


184 


ESSAYS   OH   rtjfXSh/.S   r/y//,   jx/>    MOHAL 


(  1- 


iiot  of  vanity,  hut  of  natural  magnanimity  and 
crerion.  and  in  some  persons  is  not  only  conic 
but  <ira('ious.  For  excusations,  cessions.'^  modest v 
itself  well  <ioverned,  are  hut  arts  of  ostentation. 
.".And  anion^rst  those  arts  there  is  uone  hetter  than 
ttiat  whieh  IMinius  Seeundus  sj)eakelh  of:  whieh  iv, 
to  he  lih(>ral  of  praise  and  eonmiendation  to  otJK  i> 
m  that  wlierein  a  man's  self  hath  any  perfection. 
For,   sailh    Vhny,    very    wittily.''     "in  Vommendii,- 

i(»  another,  you  do  yourself  ri^ht :  for  he  that  you  ('0111- 
men.l  is  either  superior  to  you  in  that  y<.u  .■ommeml, 
or  mferior.  If  he  he  inferior,  if  he  h,-  to  be  com- 
mended, you  much  more.  If  he  he  superior,  if  he  \>v 
not  to  be  commended,  you  mucii  less." 

15  Glorious'^  men  are  the  scorn  of  wise  men;  the  ad- 
miration of  h)ols:  the  idols  of  parasites;  and  the 
slaves  of  their  own  vaunts. 


LV.     OF    HONOFR    AXD    RFPFTATION 

Tfik  wimiinu;  of  honour  is  but  t!ie  revealing.;  of  a 
man's  virtue  and  worth  without  disadvantage''     For 

2«^some  in  tluir  actions  do  woo  and  affecf-^  honour  and 
reputation;  which  sort  (.f  men  are  connnonlv  nuich 
talk(Ml  of.  inn  inwardly  little  admired.  And  some. 
c(»ntrariwise.  darken  then-  virtue  in  the  show  of  it. 
so  as  they  be  undervalued  in  opinion. 

'2r>  If  a  man  perform  that  whicli  hath  not  been  at- 
tempted  before;    or  attempted  and  given  over;    or 


WM 


ESSAYS  OK  rOLXSELS  t'lVlL   AM>  MORAL 


185 


ii;Uh  ))('on   lu 


hiovc 


(1,  Imt   not   wiih  s(»  p)0(l  circum- 


^ranco: 


>i  ICC  tins    a    int: 


\m-   shall    purchase    nioro 


iionour    than    by 


ittcr    of   greater    (lilficulty    of    virt 


no 


wiicrcni 


he  is  but  a  follower.      If  n  man  so  lem]M>r 


as  in  some  oiu 


^  of  them   he  doth  eon-rj 

Ills     acnOMS,     :^^s     in     rxnin      wm         Ol      tin  in 

,,Mt    everv    faction    or    combination    of    peoi»l(\    'bf^ 
„u,.ic  will  l)e  the  fuller.     A  man  is  an  ill  husband" 
,,)  bis  honour  that  entereth  into  any  action,  the  lail- 
,.,-  wherein  may  disfirace  him  more  than  the  carry- 
\u.-  .>f  it   throujih  can  hoi>oiu-  him.     Honour  that  is  lo 
.ramed  and  broken  upon  another     hath  the  (luickest 
rcllcction.     like     diamonds     cut    with    facets.      And, 
,l;,M-efore,  let  a  man  contend  to  excel  any  com])eti- 
i,,!s  of  his  in  honour,  in  oiitshootin.u  them  if  \\v  can. 
i„   tlu>ir  own  bow.     Discreet   followers  and  servants  in 
i„.|p  much  to  re|)Utation:   "Omnis  fama°  a  domesti- 
,i<  cmai.at."     Knvy,  which  is  the  canker  of  lumour, 
,.  b(>st  extinfiuished  by  declaring''  a  "«i^»>"«  •'^•'•^  •"  |''^ 
cM(ls  rather  to  s(>ek  merit  than  fame;  and  by  attrib- 
Mtitm  a   man's  successes  rather  to  divine  providence 20 
•indlviicitv.  than  to  his  own  virtue  or  |)olicy. 
The  true  marshallinu-^  of  the  .ie.Lnees  of  sovcM'oign 

In    the   lirst    place   are   condi- 

impc 


Ik  iiour    are    these: 

Inns   impvrwruw.   founders   of  states   and   common- 
wealths;   such   as   were    Romulus,'^  (\vrus,°  (\esar,"'2,5 
(Mi.Muan.°   Ismael.^     In   the  second    place  are  /cf/zs-- 

cal'.ed     second 


liifor> 


lawirivcrs.    w 


inch    are    also 


Ini 


uulers.  or  pcrpenn'  priunfta 


because  thev  govern 


i.v  their  oniinances  a  iter  tiuy  are  i;o 


i\r.     Such  W(M-e 


Lvcur^iu.-, 


Solon 


u>;iniaM, 


I'ladiiar,'    Alphonsus;« 


1H(;      KSSAVS   (Hi   corxSKLS   (in/.    AM)   MORAL 


of  Castil(\°  tlu'  Wise,  that  ina(l(>  the  Side  Partuhs.^ 
In  the  third  phicc  arc  /,7><7y//o/v.s\°  or  sdlrafnra^,^  such 
as  {'oni|)()un(l°  iho  lonji  miseries  of  civil  wars,  or  dc- 
Hver  their  countries   from  .-ervitude  of  strangers  or 
5  tyrants;    as  Aujiustus  CavsMr,"   \(>spasianus,°  Aurili- 
anus.'^  Theodoricus,"    Kin*;-    Ilem-y    th(^   Seventh^  of 
I']nj;laiid.    Kiiii;-    ileiu'v    the    l"ourth°  (»f   France.     In 
tlie  fourth  j)iace  ai"e  pro/xn/alorcs,'   or  propuundtorix^ 
inijKrii,   such    as    in    honoural)ie    wars   enlarge    tiieir 
10  territories,  or  make  noi)le  delence  against   inxadeis. 
And  in  tiu^  last   phice  are  jHiins  jHifnd,''  which  rei<rii 
justly  and   mai\e  the  times  uood  wherein  they  h\f. 
Hoth  which  last  kinds  lUH^d  no  examples,  they  are  in 
such  numlxT. 
1."      l){>»2;rees  of  honour  in   sul)ject>  are:  —  First,   /x/r- 
ticijx'!^  {:ir'truni°  those  u|)on   whom   princess  do  dis- 
charge   (he   jireate.-i    wei<i;ht    of    their   affairs;     their 
ri<i;ht    hands,  as  W(>  call    tliefn.     The  next    are  duax 
belli,    iifeat     leaders,     such    as    are    |)rinces'    liouten- 
'.MKints.  and  do  them  notable  services  in  the  wars.     Th(> 
third   ai'e  (/niliosi,   fa\'oui'ites°;    such   as   c^xceed   not 
this   scant liiiu".^    to    he   sol;i<*e    to    the   sovereif:;n    and 
harmless    to    i  he    people.     And    the    fourth,    ncf/otiis 
/>f//T.s'°,-   <[\c\\  as  have  jjireat  places  under  princes,  and 
'j.">ex(>cut(^    their    plac<'s   with   suilicieticy.     There    is   an 
honoui'.  likewise,  which  may  he  ranked  amongst   the 
,i;reat(st.    which    liappene;h    rarely"     that    is  of   such 
as  sacrilic(>   themsel^•e^   to  d(>ath   oi"  dan^i'r   for  the 
<;(»od  of  their  country;  as  wa.-^  M.   Kegulus'^  and  the 
.<()  two  i)ecii.° 


ba 


ESSAYS   Oli   rOLWSELS   VIVIL    ASH   MURAL 


I8i 


LVI.     OF    JUDlCATrilE 

.kixjKs   ou^lit    to   roinomluT   that    their   office   is 
m^  diccrc  and  not  jni^  dare:   to  intcrim't  law,  and  not 
\n  make  law  or  ^ivc  law.     Klso  will   it    hv  like  the 
;„ii!i()rity   clainiod   by  llu'  Church   of    Home,  whi;'h. 
imdcr   pretext  of  exposition  of  Scripture,  doth   not:. 
stick"  to  add  and  alter;  ami  to  pronounce"  that  which 
ilirv  do  not  Hiul;    and  l)V  show°  of  anticiuity  to  in- 
tn.duc  novelty.     .ludiies  ()U«iht    to  he  more   learned 
I  hail  wittv,  m;t('  reverend  than  plaiisii)Ie.°  and  more 
a.lvised'"  than  confident.     Above  all  things,  intesirity  ic 
;~  their  portion  asid  proper  virtue.     "Cursed,"  saith 
the  law,°  "is  he  that  removeth  the  landmark."     The 
iiii>layer  of  a  merestone''  is  to  blame;    but  it  is  the 
unjust   jud<ie  that    is  th(>  capital"  remover  of  land- 
MKirks.  when  he  deUneth  amiss  of  lands  and  property,  i." 
One  foul  .s(>iit<'nce  doth   more  hurt    than   many   foul 
(AMiuplcs;    for  these  do  but   corrupt    the  stream,  the 
(.ih"r  corruptcth   the  fountain.     So  saith  Solomon."' 

•  Ions    turba.tus,  et  vena  corrupta.  est  Justus  cadens 
id  cau-a  sua  coram  adversario." 

The  ollice  of  judges  may  have  referenee  unto  the 
parties  that  sue:  unto  (lie  advocates  that  {)lead : 
iniio  the  clerks  and  ministers  of  justice^  luulerneath 
them:    and  to  the  sovereign  or  state  above  them. 

First.  :"')r  the  causes  or  parties  tiiat  sue.     "There-.':. 
he."    saith  the  Scripture,"    "that  turn  judgment  into 


ii 


wormwood. 


anc 


I  surelv  there  be  also  that  turn  it 


ISS      KSSAYS    on   (  o!  XSKl.S    flllL    AX  It   MO  UAL 


into  vincuar;  lof  iiijustico  iiiakctli  it  bitter,  and  de- 
lays make  it  sour.  Tde  principal  duty  of  a  ']\\(\iiv  !> 
to  su|)pr('ss  ton-c  and  fraud,  whereof  forec^  irs  the 
more  pernicious  when  it  is  open,  and  fraud  when  it  j- 

5 close  and  disi!;uis(Hi.  Add  thereto  contentious  suits, 
which  ou^dit  to  l)e  sjK'wed  out  as  the  surfeit  of  courl.s. 
A  jiidiie  ouffht  to  prepare  his  way  to  a  just  sentence, 
as  ( lod  useth'^  to  prcpart'  his  way.  by  raisinjj;  vallexs 
atid  takiiii!;  down  liiiis:    so  when  there  af)peareth  on 

loeither  side  an   hi,i:;h   hand,   violent    jH'osecution,  cun- 
ning; ad\at)taji'es  taken,   combination.    [)ower.  j^reat" 
counsel,  then  is  tlie  \irtue  of  a  jud^c  seen,  to  make 
inequality  e(jual;    iliat    lie  may   plant    his  judfirnent 
as   upon  an  even   uroimd.     '"(^ui-   fortiter  emunmt, 

i.'t  elicit  saniruinem ;'"  and  where  the  wine-press  is  hard 
\vrou,i!;ht.  it  \  ields  a  harsh  wine  that  tastes  of  the 
«i;rape-ston(\  .Imlii'es  nuist  beware  of  hard  construc- 
tions and  straiiHvl  inferences,  for  there  is  no  worse 
torture  than  the  tortun;  of  laws.     Specially  in  ease 

2<>of  laws  })en;il.  they  ouiiht  to  have  <'are  that  that  which 
was  meant  lor  terror  be  not  turned  into  rigour,  and 
that  they  brinu  not  upon  the  people  that  showcT 
wluM'eof  i  he  Sciiptiu'e*^  sjK'aketh.  *' l'lu(*t°  su})er  eos 
laqiieos;"     for   penal    laws   |)ressed   [in-  a  shower  of 

i.',"! snares   upon    t  le   jwople.     Therefore   let    penal  laws, 
if  they   have   been   sleepers  of  lonjj:.°  or  if   they  be 
»rrown  imlit  for  i  he  present  tim(\  be  by  wise  judges 
conhned    in    th(^  cxcM-ution:    ".Iudicis°   oilicium  est 
ut   res.   It  a  tempo.'a   rermn."  etc.     In  causes  of  life 

;«»and  ileath,  judges  ought,  as  far  as  the  law  perniitteth, 


ESSAYS   (Hi   CorySKLS   civil.    AX  ft   MOh'A/.      ISO 


If     !! 


istur  to  rcinonihcr  iikm'cv 


i\ud  to  <':i<t   a  severe 


I'M-    1 


ij)()M  the  o.\aiii|)l(\  but  a  merciful  oye  Ujum  tho 


iirt'--(Ul. 


X-ronc 


lly,    for    tho    advocates    atid    coiuisel    th-\\ 
i.  patience  and  <!;ravity  of  liearinn   is  an  essen-r. 
part   of  justice ;    and  an  ovei'-speakin^-  jnd«i('  is 
,     wt^ll-tuned  cymbal."'^      It  is  no  urace  to  a  judjii^ 
■>;  to  lind°  that  whicli  lie  miiiiit   l\a>(>  heard  in  (hie 


|i|i-:!» 


!  ;!ii(' 


from  the  l)ar;    or  to  sliow  (|ui('kness  of  conceit* 


ill 


•uttini!;  off  evu 


dene 


e  or  ('ouns( 


1   t 


oo  siiort ;    or  to  H' 


I  !v\enl°  information  l>v  (piestions.  thou«:h  pertinent. 
Tiic  puts  (»f  a  jud^c  in  iiearinji'  ar(»  four:  to  direct 
■\idence;    to  moth'rate  lengtli,  rej)etit!on,  or  iin- 


IIC    ( 


|)C1 


tiii(Micy°   of  specH'h;     to   recaiiilulate,   s< 


^lect, 


an( 


rolla 


t'\(' 


te  the  material  points  of  that  \vliich  hath  been  m 
■^aid;  and  to  ^ive  the  rule  or  sentfMice.  Whatso- 
is  above  these  is  too  nuich.  and  proc(^edeth 
ciduM'  of  ^lory"  aiid  \villin«rness°  to  speak,  or  of 
impatience  to  hear.*^  or  of  shortness  of  memory,  or  of 
want  of  a  staid  and  equal  attention.  It  is  a  stran«2;e'3 
iiiir  to  .S(H'  that    the  boldness  of  advocates  should 


.»(» 


i  II 


i.»ii.  m  wnose 
tresumi)tuou 


I'i'evail  with  judo'es;  whereas  they  should  imitate 
hose  .<eat  they  sit.  wiio  "  npn^sseth"  the 
and  jiiv(>th  ijrace  to  the  modest." 
Km  it  is  more  .stran,i!:e  that  .iudi>(^s  should  have  noted 
iavonrites,"  which  camiot  but  cause  multiplication  of 
Ices  and  sus))ie-ion  of  bye\va\s.  There  is  due  from 
the  jud^e  to  the  advocate  som(^  conunendalion  and 


Liracnm,    w 


her 


e    causes    a 


re    well    handled    and    fair 


[^leaded,  cs|x^ciully  towards  the  side  which   obtaineth;^! 


1<)()      J-JSSAYS    Oh'   COfXSHLS   C/VIL    .I.V/>    MnR.il. 


iu)f°;  for  that  upholds  in  tlio  rliciit  the  icputaiidii 
of  his  counsel,  and  heals  down  in  hini  tli(>  conceit 
of  his  cause.  There  is  likewise  due  to  the  puhlu 
a  civil°  rej)rehension  of  ad\'ocates.  where  tlK!, 
"'a|)j)eareth  ciiiuiin<ij  counsel,  ^ross  neglect,  siiuht  iii- 
forniation.  indiscn^ef  pressing-,  or  an  oxer-hold  d,  . 
fence.  And  l(>t  not  thecoinisel  at  the  har  cho))  wit  ii 
the  jud^-e.  nor  wind  himself  into  the  handhnu  of  th. 
cause  anew,   after   the  juduc   hath   declared    his  >(  n 

l(>fenc(>:  hut.  on  the  other  side.  |ci  not  the  juduc  iii'i* 
the  cause  halfway,  nor  <ii\-e  oc- asio!i  !<»  the  j)ait\  •>• 
say  his  coiuisel  or  pr'oofs  were  iiot  heard. 

Thirdly,   for   that    that    concrrns  clerk-  mi'l    iniri- 
ters.°     'Idle    place    of    justice    is    an    hallowed    phn ,  . 

t.'iand.  ther(>fore.  not  otd\-  the  hench.  hut   t!,f  l'oiit|>ac( 
and    precincts    and    pur|)rise'^    tliere<»f.    niuht     to    Ik 
pres^rxcd     wiih.oiu     scandal     and     corrtipiion.      I  <ir 
certainlv  "grapes."'  as  the  Scri|)t  iu-(>"  siiih.  "will  i,.it 
he  li-athi'red  of  thorns  or  thistles."'  neither  can  justice 

■-•nvi.-ld  \\vv  tVuit  with  sweetness  auioimst  the  hriars  and 
i>ratnl)les  ot'  .atchin^  and  polliuii'^  clerks  and  iiiiiir-- 
ier>  rit  •  aiii'ddance  ol'  courts  is  siihjcct  'o  foii' 
had  aistrhiiie'  -:  I'"irst.  <'c-'ain  p<'r<oiis  that  atv 
-owci-  of  -^uii'      \iic'h   make       <■  "ouri    swell  atni   i  hr 

j."i  i-oiiiil  ry  p!,H'.      j  he  -•■cond  sort  is...  ihosc  that  en.uaur 
courts  m     uarr*  i-^  oi   juri-dicti#m.  an<l  air  not    triil'. 
oniici  cin'nt ,''  hut    /x-    •'.>•//'   ''/r   '.     ji;    pulilin:   a   cour' 
up'^  heyond   nei*  h(»unds  for  'h«  !i-  own  scrap-  and  a<l 
vantage.     The    third   sort    is   of   tli<i-e    'hat    :ua\-    he 

;!»ai'count  d  the  left  hands  of  courtis:    fH'r>ons  that  atv 


Itlnii 

•ci! 

lllllr 

1  1  MM 

iii- 

•itii 

■   Ihr 

s(  n- 

1    1/    •!   k* 

II'      i       ' 

\\i\  — 

l;i(v. 

*  1  1  *  i 

Iml 
<t  ice 

.'llitl 

iiii-- 

full!' 

;itv 

Mi' 

nil'. 

O'l!' 

:i.i- 

■     l.c 

aif 

P,ll  oMnn.l.lr  :nHl  ^inM<T  tn.-ks  M.M  ^lults.  Nvhr,vl.y 
1,..,    ,,,,v,M-t    thr   plain   nn.l  .Invt   nmr.rs  ..    ••unv  s. 

:.;„l  ilnnu  justi<v  n.lo  nl,li.,u."  lines  an.l  hil.vnntl.s. 
v,,,!   tl...   tourth    is   tlH'   ix.llor     an.l   ('xactyr  (.1    Ircs;^ 

;;,,,,,  ,,.un-  tlH--.n..Mm  rrscMnl.l:mr.ot  tu-omn^ 

,  •,^,.,l^^^otl,'•l>^^h.^^lu•^•unt^^^•lul..•■l.    shcrp  tiu'. 
p.r.l.trn.TinwralluT.  hr  issM,vto!o..  pari   ot  h.s 

,,.,,,,     On    Ihr   otluT  si.l.'.   an   ancu-nl    •   ;Tk.   sk.ltul 
•_,,,,.apnts.  Nvarv  ill  l.n-.-r.linL:.  an<l  nn.h-rsuu.dm- 
;;'„.,),„n..ssnf,h..n.ur,.i>an   .Mvllrnt  hn^rr  ot  lu 
.loth  manv  tnnrs  |...int   the  Nvay  to  Ihc 


:i   ' 


•ourt.  aiHl 


,,ln(<  hiir.si'lt'. 

l-,,„-n.lv     lor   that    uhi.-h    inav   .-on-Trn   thr  sovc- 
,;.,„„..i.Ma...     .lM.l^l.-.M.h,  ■Unx.allto.wni.er 
,i;..onclu^.oMot  r,H>H..n,antw..Uvirl.l<-.        ^alu.    i- 
,.„uU   supivina    l.'s:-     n.M    to   knou    (hat    laws    rx- 
:.,.,„    Mh.    h.-   in   oM.T   to   that    .1.1.   a,v   Imt    tlnn,. 

.,'  nou/au.l  orarLs   no,  urll   n.,.iv<i.      1  hnvton.  it 
,;',„  happv  thin.:  in  a  staf  whrn   lun^s  and  siafs 

,..,H,,,/,';,;.uh  withju.l^r..  anaa^.m.  wh.n_ju.lii.>^. 


i    )     Mtlcll      ••Oil' 


,„1,  wilh'  ih.'  kiim-  ana  slatr:  the  one 
,,^,„  ,,„,,.  i,  jnattoroflaNv  u.tnv.nirnt  in  Imsinoss 
,,,'.,.,i<.  tlu-  otlH'i-  when  ihoiv  IS  some  con.^uUMat ion 
,„•  .ta!-   nn. rvrni.M.t    in    matter  of  lav.      lor   many 

uaiiinent   nuiy  l)e  nnunri. 


IIIK 


•s  ine  Ilillli^-^  «i<" 


sce^l 


;i!H 


in  • 


1  ///////^  wh"n  the  rea-< 
av  ireiich  to  po'i 
t    <inlv    the    p: 


ti  and  toiiMMiuenc*' 


th(M-('ot 


il  <!t  e<Iate. 


■r<     (»1      .,)\i 


1  call  tnatt(M-  of  estate 
reifintv.   l)Ut    whatsoever 


iicrodiu'eth  any  .uiva 
aent.  or   coiiceiiicUi 


t   •ijtera.lion,  oi'  aaii'.M  rou-  preee- 
iiiunilcsllv    any    great     i.ortiun.-«) 


^m 


U>L'     hss.trs  i>i:  imwsri.s  run,  ash    »/o/.m/. 

'•f   f)('(. ))!('.      And    let    no   intii    wc-iklv   conceive   thm 

just  'aws  ;mi<I  true  policy  li.-uc  any  antipatlix  .  Ur  1lic\ 

arc  like  the  spiii?^  aiid  sinews.  ih;it  om-  nioxcs  wnii 

the  ofh">".      i.e!  jiidues  also  reineinixM-  that  Solomon  • 

.".throne   was   siipported    i.y    lions   on    both   sides:    1.  i 

them  l»e  lions,  hut  yet   lions  under  the  throne,  beiiiii 

circumspcci    ihai    they     ;      net'    check  or  oppose  ah\ 

points    of    so\(M-ei,>int\ .      ;.t    not     iudu;es    also    he    -,, 

i^nioranl   of  iheir  owfi  riizht,  as  to  think  there  is  noi 

lolel't  l<»  them,  as  a  prin-apal  part  of  their  ollice,  a  wi-c 

use  and  af)plication  oi  laws.      For  thev  may  remem- 

her   what    the   A}>ostie'^   saith   of  a   .uicaler   law    than 

liieirs:    '  .Vos  scimus"  quia  lex  bona  est,  modo  quis  eu 

utalur  legitime." 


KVII.     OF    AXCKR 

ir.     To  seek  to  e\tin<i:uish  an<<er  ut  tiM'ly  is  l)ut  a  bravery^ 
of  the  Stoics.  '     \\c  have  Ix^tter  oracles:    "  He  auiirv, 
but  sin  not  ;  let  not  the  sun  <;o  dowti  upon  your  anger." 
Anii;(>r  must    (h-  iiniited  aiid   confined,  botli  in  racv 
and   \v.   lime.     \Vc   will   tu-st   sp<'ak   how   the  natiu-al 

-•"inclination  and  habii  to  be  angry  may  be  at temf)ored 
and  cahncd;    s(  condly,  how  the  particular  motions  of 
angor  !tia>    be  repres.^t'd,  or.  at   least,  refrained  from 
(loiug  liiischief;    ihinllw  how  (o  raise  anger,  or  ap- 
pease aiigJM'.  in  another. 

-'■''      For  the  first,  th.-re  is  no  other  way  but  to  medi- 
tate and  rumiruito  well  upon  the  effects  of  ;int!er.  how 


Hss.ws  OR  rnr\si:i.s  miL  .t\i>  mokal     VX\ 


\ 


,1  tn.uhlcs  \\VM\'<  life.  Ami  the  hcst  time  to  do  this. 
i.  K.  look  hack  upon  nn,u;"r  wlun  the  lit  is  thoroudily 
,,\<T.  S(MH'ca°  saith  well,  that  -  Aii.ir<-r  is  like  niin.' 
uhirh  l.ivaks  its(>h"  ui)on  that  it  talis."  The  Sciip- 
iiiiv  cxhortctii  tis  "to  poss(>ss  oiir  souls  in  |)ati<Mic('."  r. 
WlK.socvrr  is  out  of  i)ati('iif('  is  out  of  jjossossion  ot 
\u<  soul.      Men  must    not   ttirn  lice-. 

■  ■  —  Aiiinias((iU'    in  villi ktc  jutnuiit." 

\,  ovr  is  ccrlainix  a  kind  of  l);i^.nrss.  as  ii  ni)p(\u-s 
v,.||  j.|  ti  .■  \v<'akn(>ss  of  tJK.sc  suhjocts  in  whom  it  ic 
!,"iLiii-:  chiKlivn,  \Vi)m(Mi.  old  folks,  sick  folks.  Only 
rii  must  beware  that  I  hey  earn  tlieir  ant-cr  rather 
-.ill  scorn  than  with  fe;ir.  so  tlicv  ma\-  s(>cm  rather 
,,,  !,('  ;,Ih.v(>  the  injury  tiiaii  helow  it:  which  is  a^ 
•  ea'-ilv  done   if  a   man  will  ui\c  law  to  himsc^li  ir. 


1 1  i  1 1 1  '.i 

!!.      it 


Tor   the  second   point,    the   causes   ainl    uiotives  of 
Mi'ier    are    chicMiy    ihi'ee.      fii'st.    to    he    too    sensible 
,r    jmrl.for  m*   man   is  a.".,iiry  that    tVels   !iot   himself 
!i,,n  ;      ;ind    therefore    teiuler    and    delicate    persons'Jo 
Miisi    needs  he  oft   anury.  they  have  so  many   thitms 
!,.    !rouhl(>    th<>m    which,    more    rohu-^l    nat'.ncs    have 
lit.r  ^(M!<(»  of.     The   next    is,   the   appreheii.-lon   and 
!•  Mi<n".iclioii  '  of  the  injury  offered   to  he.  in  the  cir- 
.■•iMi-  .mces  ♦lierc  .f.  full  of  contempt.      lM>r  contemi-t  lt. 
:^   I  hat   wh'cn  jinttcMli  an  edu'e  upon  anirer  as  much 
,,.    i;i(»rc  Jhait   Ik"  hm-t    its<>lf;    and.  therefore,  when 
!i,,'  1   ;ue    n.jiiMii   ns   in    ]Mckini:  out    circumstaiic<'s  ol 
(oet.-i.iisf  ,^  t'U'V  do  kintlle  their  anirer  mu<'h.      l-a-  dy, 


stZvi! 


194     Kss.trs  o/f  carxsHLs  civil  and  MituM 


opinion  of  tlio  louch°  of  ;i  inan's  n^putatioii  dott, 
iniiltij)iy  and  siiarpcn  aii^cr;  wlicrciii  the  rcmody  is 
that  ;i  man  siiould  have,  as  ('(»nsal\<)°  was  wont  n. 
say,  "tolani°  honoris  crassionMn."  Hut  in  ail  rcfraiii- 
nin^s  of  an<r('r  it  is  the  l)cst  rcMucdy  to  witi  time,  aii.i 
to  make  a  man's  self  Ix'jicvc'  tliat  the  opportiiiiii\ 
of  his  r('V(>n^o  is  not  yot  coinf.  'Mit  that  \\v  foresees 
a  time  for  it;  and  so  t<»  still  hin  elf  in  th(>  meanliinc 
an(i  voserv(>  if. 
l<»  To  contain''  an<i'er  from  misejuef,  tliouoji  it  take 
hold  of  a  man.  then^  hv  two  things  whereof  you  niusi 
have  special  caution.  The  one.  of  (>.\treme  lulier- 
ness  of  words,  especially  if  they  he  aculcat(>-'  ami 
proper, °    for    cunt/iunid    tN(il((h'<t(i°    are    nothin<i;    so 

inmueh:  and  afjain,  that  in  an^^er  a  man  reveal  lu. 
secrets  tor  that  makes  him  not  fit  for  society.  The 
otluT,  tliat  you  do  no!  p(>remptoriiy  break  off  in  anv 
husi?n\>s  in  a  hi  of  anjrcr;  hut  howsoever  you  show 
bitterness,  do  not  act  anylhin*!;  that  is  not  rev(*cal)l(\ 

'3)  !'or  raisinji;  nd  app(>asi.i<!;  an^^er  in  another,  it  is 
done  chietiy  hy  choosin<]j  of  times  when  m<Mi  are 
frowai'dest  and  W(.;st  disposed,  to  incense  them. 
Aijaiii  l)^'  gatheri?!"-:.  as  was  touched  before,  ail 
that  you  can   hnd   out   to  aggravate   the  contempt. 

'JSAnd  the  two  remcMlies  are  by  the  contraries:  the 
former,  to  take  good  times,  when  first  to  relate  to 
a  man  an  angiy  business,  for  the  first  impression  is 
much;  and  the  other  is  to  sever, °  as  much  as  mav 
l)e,    the    construction  of    th.e    injury  from   the  ))oint 

lioof  cojit<'mpt.  iuijHitifig  it  to  misunderstanding,  fear, 
j)assion,  or  what  you  will. 


j:ssays   (Hi  (OrSSKLS  <  IVIL     I.V/'   MnIi.\L 


1 '.>.') 


LVllI.     OF    VICISSITI'DK    OK    TIIIXCS 

<,,i..m..n"    snitlK    "Thcro    is    no    iu>nv    tliinii    upon 

,,, „-th;'  so  tlKil.  MS  rialo°  luul  an  itiiaiiinatiou  that 

,11  kn.Avl('Mlir(>  ^vas  hut  roincmlM-an.-o.  so  S<.lon.oM  .-.v- 
!,,h  hi-  sont(Mico.°  "that  all  iiowlty  is  hut  ohhviou 
\\  h.Mvhv  vou  niav  s(v  that  th(M-iv(M- of  Lrth(.°  runuHh  :. 

nc'll  iiliovc  jiroun<l  as  hclow.     TIumv  .s  an  ahstnisc 


thin 


.;,ol(.ovr  tlmt  saith:    "If  it  wciv  not   tor  two 
h,t  aiv  constaiu  (tho  ono  is  that  the  li.vd  .-tars  rvrr 
Miiul  at  lik(>  (listaiur  ono  ffom  atiothcr.  an.l  lu^vcr 
,,;,„o  noai-n-   t..ji(>tluM-  nor  ,iio   furth.-r   asunder;    the  i.i 
other    that  tiie  diurnal  motion^  perju'tually  k(>ei)Oth 
tinuo'  no  individual  would  last  on(>  monietit."     ("er- 
t,in  it   is  that   the  matter^  is  in  a   perpt'tual   lux, 
,"„d    never   at    a    stay.-      The    -tvat    windn,j:-sluvts 
,l,,r   Imrv  all  thin--  in  ohhviou   aiv   two.        delu-es  i.. 
,n:    earth(iuak..s.     As   for   eonlla-rations   an.     ^reat 
.ln,uo-hts,  tliev  (h)  not  ni.'rely°  dispeople  and  destroy. 
Phaeton's  ear'^   ^^(Mlt   but  a  day.       And    the    three 
vr.iis'   drou-ht   in   the   time  of    ITeis"   was   hut   i)ar- 
■.,.Mlar.°    and    left    ].eople    alive.     As    for    the    ^x^a   ^i 
l.urtmi^s  bv  li^htt.in-s.  'Ahich  are  often  m  the  W  ."st 
In.iies,  thev  are  but  narrow,      i^.t   in  the  other  two 
d.>-truetions.  bv  dehi-o  and  eartluiuak.^.  it   i-  iurther 
to  be  noted  that  the  retunant  of  peoi)le  winch  hap  to 
h.>  reserved  are  eomtnotdv  i^M.rant  and  mount  anions  j.. 

,,„pl,.,  that   ean  j-ive  no  aeeou.:t    of  th<'  tune  past: 
...  that  the  oblivion^  is  all  'uu>,  as  if  none  had  l>een 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


|45 


2.0 


■  4.0 


1.8 


^     /APPLIED  IM/1GE     Inc 


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196      ESSAYS  OR   COCXSELS   CIVIL   AND   MORAL 

lofi.      If  y()ii  ('()nsi(l(>r  well  of  (ho  people  of  tlio  \Xv<\ 

Indies,  it  is  very  probahio  tiiat  tlioy  are  a  newer  or 

a  younjrer  people  than  (i;e  people  of  the  old  world; 

and  it  is  nineli  more  likely  that  the  destruetion  that 

flhath   heretofore  been  there  was  not  by  earthqiiak«'s 

(as  the  Kuyptian  priest°  told  Solon°  coneernin^  tli<- 

island    of    Atlantis.^    that    it    was   swallowed    bv   an 

earthquakiO.  but  rather  that  it  was  desolated  by  a 

particular  delu.u-e.     For  eartlupiakes   are   seldom   in 

10  those  parts;   but,  on  the  other  side,  they  have  sueli 

pourinti;  rivers,  as  the  rivcTs  of  Asia  anil  Afrie  and 

Europe  are  but  brooks  to  them.    Their  Andes  lik(nvis.'. 

or   mountains,   are   far   hi,!>:lier   than   those   with    us; 

whereby  it  seems  th;d  the  remnants  of  ^venerations  of 

15  men   \\\^yo    in   such   a    particular  delu.uc   saved.     As 

for  the  observation  that    Madiiavel'"  iiath.  that  the 

jealousy  of  s(H'ts  doth  much  e\tin,i>uish  the  memory  of 

thin<2:s.  —traducing-  (ireij;ory  the  (Ireat,'^  that  hedid 

what  in  him  lay  to  extin.tiuish  all  heathen  antifpiities. 

LH)  —  I  do  not  (ind  that-  those  zeals  do  any  sreat  effects 

nor  last  lonu;;    as  it  a|);)ear(^(l   in   the  succession  of 

Sabinian,°  who  did  revive  th(^  formcM'  antitpiitios. 

The  v:cissitud(>s  or  nuitations  in  the  superior 
slobe°  are  no  fit  mat.er  for  this  present  ar<rument. 
25  It  may  b(\  Plato's  oreat  year,°  if  the  worKl  should  last 
so  lon^.  would  ha\('  some  (effect,  not  in  renewing  the 
state  of  like'"  individuals  (for  that  is  the  fume°  of 
those  that  conceiv(^  the  celestial  bodies  have  more 
accurate^  infhuMices  upon  these  thin.L^^  below  than 
;m) indeed   they    have),    but   in   ^n-oss.     Comets,   out   of 


KSSAYS   OH   ro/'.V.S/-./-N    '/I//.     1-V/'    MoUM. 


id: 


.uostion,  have  like-wise   |>ow(«r   m,.  i   olfect    over    tlu- 
■TOSS  ami  mass  o(  thi.i-s;    t.ui  ih.'v  arc  ralh.-r  -a/ed 
upon,  and  waitod  upon  in  thrir  journey,  than  wisely 
.hserved  in  tiieir  eftVcts,  specially  in  then-  respe.-tive 
.fVcts-    that   is.  what  kind  of  eoinet   ior  i.iafiintude,  ■. 
...ilour,  version^  of  the  beams,  plaeinu  i.i  the  re-ion 
,1  heaven,  or  lastin,ii.  pro.luceth  v.  hat  kmd  ol  eltects 
There  is  a  tov^  whifh  1  have  heard,  and  I  wouUl 
uoi  have  it   iiiven  over.'^  but   w:'.ited  upon     a  httle 
They   say    it    is   observed    in    the    l.ow   Countries,    I  in 
know   not  in  what    part,   that  every   tive-and-tlmty 
vears  the  same  kind  and  suit°  of  years  and  weathers 
ronies  about  a-aiu:    as  jj;reat  frosts,  -reat  wet,  j^reat 
droufrhts,   warm   winters,   sumn»ers   with   httle   heat, 
and  the  like.  -  and  they  eall  it   the  prune,     it   is  a  i.T 
thin^   I  do  the  rather  mention.   beeaus«>.  eompuimg 
baekwards.  1  have  found  some  concurrenee. 

But  to  leave  these  points  of  nature,  and  to  eome 
t,»  men      The  -reatest  vicissitude  of  thii^gs  amon^^st 
nirn    is   the    vicissitude   of   sects   and    rehjiu.ns;     tor-.M 
those   orbs'^    rule    in    men's    minds    most.     '1  he    true 

■■    the    rest    are 


relit;ion    is    "built"    upon    the    r(»ck 

I  upon  the  waves  of  time.     To  speak,  theretorc 


tossed  up( 

of  the  causes  of  new  s( 


'cts.  and  to  uive  sonu-  cttunsf 


concernu\ 


t£  them,  as  far  as  the  wen 


kness  (»f  human:'/. 


judi^ment  can  ,sj;ive  stay  to  so 


ij;r(-at   revolution; 


When   the   relisiion    formerly    receivi-d    is   n-n 


t    b}- 


discords,  and  when  the  holiness  of  the  professors 
of  reliiriou  is  decaved  an<l  full  of  scandal,  and  withal 
the  tunes  be  stupid,  igtu)rant,  and   barban 


>us,    vou;w 


11)8      ESSAYS   OR   roVXSKLS   CIVIL   A XI)   MORAL 


may  doubt °  tlio  sj)ri  i>in<j  up  of  a  now  sect,  if  then  aLsd 
there  siiould  arise  any  extravagant  and  strange 
spirit  to  make  himself  autlior  thereof.  All  whieli 
poir^s  held  when  Mahomet°  published  his  law, 
r»  If  a  new  sect  have  not  two  j)ropertie.s,  fear  it  not. 
for  it  will  not  spread.  The  one  is  the  supplantin<.' 
or  the  o])posing  of  authority^  established ;  for  nothing 
is  more  popular  than  that.  The  other  is  the  giving 
license  to  i)leasure.-?  and  a  voluptuous  life.     For  as  for 

10  speculative  heresies,  such  as  were  in  ancient  times 
the  Arians,°  and  now  the  Arminians,°  though  they 
work  mightily  u{)on  men's  wits.°  yet  they  do  not  pro- 
duce any  great  alterations  in  states;  except  it  be  by 
the  help  of  civil  occasions.     Ther^   l)e  three  manner 

]"» of  plantations  of  ncnv  sects :  by  the  power  of  signs  and 
miracles;  by  the  elociuence  and  wisdom  of  speech 
and  persuasion ;  and  by  the  sword.  For  martyrdoms, 
1  reckon  then)  amongst  miracles,  because  they  seem 
to  exceed  the  strength  of  human  nature;   and  I  may 

•J) do  the  like  of  superlative  and  admirable  holiness  of 
life.  Surely  there  is  no  better  way  Xo  stop  the  rising 
of  new  s(>cts  and  schisms  than  to  reform  abuses: 
to  com))ound°  the  smaller  differences;  to  proceed 
mildly,  and  not  with  sanguinary  persecutions;    and 

•J5  rather  to  take  off  the  principal  authors  by  winning 
and  advancing  them,  than  to  enrage  them  by  violence 
and  bitterness. 

The  changes  and  vicissitudes  in  wars  are  many, 
but  chiefly  in  three  things:   in  tlie  seats  or  stages  of 

;iOthe  war,  in  the  weapons,  and  in  the  manner  of  the 


ESSAYS   OR   rorXSKLS   CIVIL    AX/>   ^KHiM 


1<)0 


coiuhict.     Wars  in  anc'uMit  time  srcmod  more  to  movo 
from  east  to  west;   for  the  Persians.  Assyrians.  Arahi- 
ans.  Tartars,  whieh  were  the  inva(l(>rs.  were  all  eastern 
'l)(>ople.     It  is  true  the  (iaiils  w(M-e  western;    Init  wo 
rend  Vnit  of  two  ineursions  of  theirs, -the  one  ton 
(;allo-(lnucia.°  the  other  to   Home.     Hnt    lOast   atul 
West  have  no  certain  points  of  heaven;   and  no  more 
have  the  wars,  either  from  the   Mast   or  W(>st,  any 
c.Ttahitv    of    observation.     But    North    and    Sontli 
are  fixed;   and  it  hath  seldom  or  never  l)(>en  seen  that  lo 
the  far  southern  people  have  invaded  the  northern, 
hut  contrariwise.     Whereby  it   is  manifest   that   the 
northern  tract    of  the  world   is   in   natun^   lh(>   nuMv 
martial  rej^ion:    l)e  it  in  respect  of  the  stars  of  that 
hemisphere:   or  of  the  great  continents  that  are  upon  \: 
the  North,  whereas  the  south  jiart,  for  auf2;ht  that  is 
known,  is  almost  all  sea;   or  (which  is  most  ap!)arent) 
of  tl  e  cold  of  the  northern  parts,  which  is  that  which, 
without  aid  of  discipline,  doth  make  the  bodies  hard 
est  and  the  couraji(>s  warmest. 

Upon  the  breaking!  and  shivering  of  a  great  state 
and  empire  vou  may  be  s\uv  to  have  wars.  For 
great  emi)ires.  while  thry  stand,  do  enervate  and 
destroy  the  forces  of  the  natives  which  they  have 
sulKlued,  resting  upon  their  own  ])rotectmg  forces ; •j.t 
and  then  when  they  fail  also,  all  goes  to  ruin,  and 
they  become  a  prey.  So  was  it  in  th(>  decay  of  the 
Roman  empir  '   '  '  "' 


20 


maigne' 


after  Charles  the  (ireat.°  every  l»ird  uiking 


a  feather;   and  were 


not  unlike  to  befall  to  Spain,  li 


•1 


;w 


fJW 


200    /';.....ir.s  oA*  rof^sKLs  <ivil  asd  moral 

it  should  break.  Tlio  ,<iroat  accessions  and  unions 
of  kini2;d()nis  do  likcnviso  stn*  uj)  wars.  For  when  a 
state  srows  to  an  over-power,  it  is  hke  a  f..eat  flood 
that  will  he  ^^wyq  to  overflow;  as  it  hath  been  seen  in 
n  tiie  states  of  Home,  Turkey,  Spain,  and  otluM's.  Look 
when  the  world  hath  fewest  barbarous  peoples,  but 
such  as  commonly  will  not  marry  or  generate  except 
they  know  means  to  live  (as  it  is  almost  everywhere 
at  this  day,  except  Tarta?\v);  there  is  no  dan«;er  of 

10  inundations  of  people;  but  when  there  be  jrreat  shoals 
of  peopk',  which  <^ct  on°  to  pojMilate,  without  fore- 
seein,G:  means  of  life  and  sustentation,°  it  is  of  necessity 
that  once  in  an  a^e  or  two  they  discharge  a  i)ortion  of 
their  people  upon  other  nations,  —  which  the  ancient 

irinorHiern  peoj)le  were  wont  to  do  by  lot,  casting  lots 
what  part  shoukl  stay  at  home  and  what  should  seek 
their  fortunes.  When  a  warlike  state  jirows  soft  and 
effeminate,  they  may  I  tv  sure  of  a  war.  For  commonly 
such  states  are  •irovrn  rich  in  the  time  of  their  degen- 

'ioeratinti;;  and  so  the  j)rey  inviteth,  and  their  decay 
in  valour  encoura^eth  a  w;u*. 

As  for  the  weapons,  it  hardly  falleth  imder  rule 
and  o})servation;  yet  we  see  even  they  have  returns 
and   \icissitudes.     For  certain^  it   is  that   ordnanc(> 

25  was  known  in  the  city  of  the  Oxidrakes  in  India,  and 
was  that  which  the  Macedonians  callerl  thunder 
and  li<ihtnin2:  a-ul  maiiic.  And  it  is  well  known 
that  tlu-  use  of  i  -dnance  hath  been  in  China  above 
two  thousand  years.     Tlie  conditions  of  weajions  and 

30 their  improvement  are:   First,  the  fetching^  afar  off, 


?:ssAys  I  Hi  ror.v.sT-.v.N  ( ivii.  .i\i>  moum.    'JH 

tor  tliat  outruns  the  (laiiiici.  a.-  n  is  seen  in  onliuuice 
niid  niuslvots.  Secondly,  the  slrcuLMh  of  tlic  pt-ivus- 
vioii,  \vliiM-('i!i  iikcnvisc  ordnance  do  exceed  all  arie- 
t;itioi!^°  and  ancient  inventions.  The  third  is  the 
(•nninuKlious  use  of  them.  as.  that  ihev  may  serve :> 
111  all  weathers,  that  the  carria.uc  may  be  lij^ht  and 
maiiaueahle.  and  the  like. 

lor  the  conduct  of  th<'  way:  at  the  first  men 
iv-ted.  extremely  Uj)on  numlu-r;  they  did  put  the 
wars  lik(>\vise  ui)on  main  force  and  valoui".  pointin^"^  m 
,l;,vs  for  pitched  liekls,  md  so  tryinii  it  out  upon 
;m  even  match;  and  they  were  more  i<j;norant  in 
!;in,L^i  11,12;  and  arrayinji;  their  battles."  After,  they 
urcw  to  rest  upon  number  rather  competent  than 
\ast;  they  .irrew  t'>  :vlvan(a*i;es  of  place.  cun!iin<!;  ir. 
diversions,  and  the  like;  .and  they  jrrew  more  skil- 
ful in  the  orderin.s:;  of  their  battk^s. 

In  the  youth  of  a  state,  arms  do  flourish;  in  the 
middle  ajjje  of  a  state,  k'arninfi-;  and  then  both  of 
idem  tof^ether  for  a  time;  in  the  dc'clininii;  a^^e  of'J'J 
:i  state,  mechanical  arts  and  merchandise.  Ltarn- 
injr  hath  his  infancy,  when  it  is  but  be<j;innln^^  and 
;i!mosi  childish;  then  his  youth,  when  it  is  luxuri- 
;i!it  and  juveniks  then  his  str<'n<ith  of  years,  when 
It  is  solid  and  redr.-ed°;  and  lastly,  his  old  a^^e, 'J.i 
when  it  waxeth  drv  and  exhaust. °  Hut  it  i.s  not 
iiood  to  look  too  lonjr  upon  these  turninii;  wheels" 
of   vicissitude,    lest   we   become   giddy.     As   for   the 


iiliHo 


loiiv' 


o 


f  them,  that  is  but  a  circle  of  tales,  and 


\m 


therefore  not  fit  for  this  writing 


'M 


wm 


NOTES 


*i 


L    OF  TRUTH 

(1(525) 

1:1.   Pilate.     See.Tohr  >>     .    " 

1:4,   affecting.    Aimii  .rins.    Compare  Latin  a/(Pr<o. 

1 :  -).   sects  of  philosophei.      Tue  Grecian  schools  of  Sceptics. 
1:11.    imposeth  upon.     L'nderslaml   as  object  'burden'  or 

•voke.'  .     , 

"  1 :  13.   a  natural  though  corrupt  love.     Compare  Browning  s 
The  Bing  an'  the  Book,  Book  X,  "  The  Pope  "'  :  — 

'< Man  must  tell  his  mate 

Of  you,  rae  and  himself,  knowins  he  lies, 
Knowing  his  fellow  knows  the  same,  — will  think 
'  He  lies,  it  is  tl;e  niethod  of  a  man !  ' 
And  yet  will  speak  for  answer  *  It  is  truth ' 
To  him  who  shall  rejoin  '  Again  a  lie! '  " 


14. 
13. 


One  of  the  later  schools  of  the  Grecians.     Lucian. 
One  of  the  Fathers.     Augustine,  in  his  ( 'ou/essiotis. 

8:14.  vinum  daemouum.     '  The  wine  of  devils.' 

3 :  -2.   The  poet.     Lucretius. 

3  : 3.   The  sect.     The  Epicureans.    See  note  on  page  0,  line  4. 

3 :  4.  excellently  well.  Compare  the  same  reference  in  The. 
A.lmnremnit  of  Lpaniinrj,  end  of  Book  1:  "which  the  poet 
Lucretius  deserilvth  elegantly." 

3:20.  round.  Thorough;  plain.  Compare  Malvolio  in 
Shakespeare's  rtveJfth  \i(lkt.  Act  II.  So.  3:  — 

"  Sir  Tohy,  I  must  ho  round  with  you ; " 
203 


204 


NOTES 


[Pages  .']- 


and  I'olonius  in  Hamlet,  Act  III,  Sc.  4: 

"  I'l-.iy  you,  ]»e  roiind  with  him." 

3:28.  Montaigne.     A  Freiicli  writer.  1 :,:{.]_  1592. 

4:9.  "He  shall  not  find  faith  upon  the  earth."  — Luke 
xviii.  8. 

II.    OF  DEATH 

(1<)12.    Enlarged ,  l()L'."i) 

4 :  18.  mortification.  Methods  of  disciplining  the  body,  evtn 
of  ill-treating  ii,  for  religious  ends. 

4 :  20.  "  Pompa,"  etc.  "  T'  trappings  of  death  frighten  us 
more  tlian  death  itself."'  —  Skni-.va. 

6:3.   blacks.     Mourning  garments. 

5:12.  pre-occupateth.  Anticipates, —  cumniits  suicide. 
Otho.  The  IJoman  emperor.  Salvius  Otho,  who  slew  hinwelf 
after  his  defeat  by  Vitellius,  Ills  successor    ..d.  09. 

5 :  10.    Seneca.     Roman  philosoplier  unuer  Nero.     A  Stoic. 

6:17.  '-Cogita,"  etc.  'Consider  how  long  you  have  been 
doing  the  same  things  ;  the  longing  fordeatli  is  natural  not  only 
to  the  brave,  or  the  miserable,  but  also  to  the  sensitive.' 

6:24.   Augustus  Caesar.    Roman  empen.r,  i5.( .  :n-A.j>.  14, 

6:25.  '^Livia,"  etc.  'Farewell,  Livia,  and  remember  our 
married  life.' 

5:20.    Tiberius.     Successor  to  Augustus,  a.  d.  14-37. 

6:27.  Tacitus.  Roman  hi.storian,  born  a.d.  54.  "Jam,"' 
etc.  '  Tiberius  was  now  losing  strength  and  vitality,  but  not 
dissimulation.' 

5:28.    Vespasian.     Roman  emperor,  a, i>.  09-79. 

6  :  29.    "  Ut  puto."  etc.     - 1  think  I  am  becoming  a  god.' 

5:80.  Galba.  li<nuan  emperor,  ^.n.  68-09,  slain  in  the 
capital  by  rebellious  sol. liens.  "  Feri,"  etc.  '  Strike,  if  this  be 
for  the  good  of  Rome  1 ' 


■v..J  s  0-b] 


XOTES 


2(>r> 


6:2.   Septimius  Severus.    Koiuaii   eiiu>eror,    \.v.    19;5-211. 
..  Adeste,"  tic.     ■  Mf  quick,  if  au<,'lit.  ivinaiiis  for  uie  U>  acvoiii- 

6:  ».  Stoics.  One  of  tli«'  f<'ur  principal  Greek  tohools  ot 
nhilosopliy  •  the  Acadeiiiiciaiis  (I'lato)  ;  the  l»eripatetics  (Ari.s- 
•,tU);  the  KpicurciUi.s  (Kpiourus)  ;  aii«l  the  Stoies  (Zeiio). 
The  Stoios  taught  indifference  to  all  emis  other  than  virtue. 

6:ti.   -'qui,"  etc.     'Who  regards  tlie  end  of  life  as  one  of 
nature's  blessin.^s.' 

6:  1').   Nunc  dimittis.     Luke  ii.  21> :  ".Lord,  now  lettest  thou 
tl.y  servant  depart  In  peace/'     A  Ciuirrh  of  Kuirland  canticle. 

6  :  IS.    •'  Extinctus,'"  etc.     '  Let  him  die,  and  you'll  love  h'ni 
Lo- morrow.'' 

III.     OF   UNITY   IN   RELIGION 

(Uil'J.  Greatly  enlarged,  Ki'-'o) 
This  essay  doubtless  grew  out  of  Bacon',  strong  dislike  of 
theological  controversy,  as  expressed  in  The  Advancement  of 
Unrniiw.  It  was  originally  written  in  ldl-.i,  and  greatly  en- 
l;a-vd  in  1025.  The  air  was  full  of  discord  during  these  years, 
ihe'ruritans  being  at  one  extreme  and  the  High  Church  party 

:u  tlie  other. 

7  :  14.   solution  of  continuity.     Interruption  of  bodily  har- 
mony. 
7  :  18.    "Ecce."  etc.     'Behold,  he  is  in  the  desert.' 
7  :  19.   "Ecce,'"  etc.     '  Behold,  l.e  is  in  the  secret  closjt.' 
7  : 2.}.    •'  Nolite  exire.'     '  Go  not  out.'     See  context. 
7:24.     doctor.     Teacher.     St.  Paul. 
8 : 2.    "  chair  of  the  scorners."     See  Tsalm  i.  L 
8 :  r>.   a  master  of  scofang.     Rabelais,  a    French   humorist, 

8:7.    monis-dance.     An  old    English   festival  dance.     The 


L'OC. 


yOTKS 


[I'A«iKHb-U 


naiiio   is  i^robably  corniiUeil   fr  >in    }fi>n'srn,  or   Miiorish,   tin* 
(laiu'c  liavinir  lu-t'ii  ltr(iui,'lit  into  KiiuUiiid  from  Spain. 

8:  l»t.    politics,     roliticians. 

8: '2 1,    zelants.    /lalois. 

8  :-'.'!.    "turn  thee  behind  me  "     Sco  2  Kinirs  ix.  17-10. 

8:2">.    Laodiceans.     Lukt-warni  persons.    Sfi' Kev,  iii.  IJ-lTi. 

9:  -'•».  ••  In  veste."  etc  •  Let  there  b^  variety,  but  no  divi- 
sion, in  the  traniient.* 

10:7.  "Devita,"  etc.  '  Avoidinir  tiie  profane  novelties  of 
vvord.s,  and  oppo.sitions  of  knowh'due  falsely  so  termed.'  Stf 
1  Tini.  vi.  'JO. 

10:  18.   Nebuchadnezzar's  image.    See  Dan.  ii.  :;i-;].}. 

10:21.    muniting.     Stren-riheuiii,.  fortifying. 

10:27.  Mahomet's.  .Malinmet,  spelled  also  Moiiamnied,  was 
born  at  Meeca.  Arabia,  a.o.  r)71.  He  founded  the  Moliamnie- 
dan  religion. 

11:0.  Agamemnon.  Kin-r  of  Myeena'  and  Argos.  Upon 
Helen's  elopement  with  I'aris,  Againennton  led  the  (ireeks 
against  Troy.  At  this  time  lie  killed  a  stag  sacred  to  Diana, 
and  pacified  the  goddess  only  by  sacrificing  his  daughter 
Iphigenia. 

11  :  1 1.  "  Tantum,"  etc.  '  To  such  dreadful  evils  could  reli- 
gion constrain  ! ' 

11:  l->.  massacre.  Slaughter  of  the  Trotestants  in  France,  on 
St,  Barthoh)mew's  Day,  1572.  powder  treason.  The  Gunpow- 
der Plot.  Xovenilier  o.  lOO.").  devised  by  Hobert  Cate.sby,  Guv 
Fawkes,  and  tviiers,  to  blow  up  tlie  House  of  Parliament  in 
London,  as  a  Roman  Catholic  protest  against  the  extortions  of 
James  I. 

11:10.  Anabaptists.  A  religions  t  .  that  became  very  active 
after  the  opening  of  the  Heformation.  Their  fanatical  career 
provok.  (1  severe  persecution,  until,  after  defeats  in  Saxony  and 
Franconia,  they  seized  Miinster  and  held  it  for  a  time,  being 


I'a..i>  lli-llj 


y(trKS 


L'Oi 


.vriitually  driven  tliciicf  witli  heavy  losses.  Their  general 
jiriiiriplts  were  punT  thiin  their  (•(HiiliU't. 

I2:ti.    facts.     Deeils.     ('nnipare  Latin /«<<•/(«. 

12:'.'.    would.     Should. 

12:10.  "Ira,"  etc.  'The  wratli  of  man  woiketh  not.  the 
jusliee  of  (Jo*!.'      See  .las.  i.  "JO. 

12:11.  a  wise  father.  One  of  the  priests  of  the  early 
{'linn-h. 

12:14.    interessed.     Inten.sted. 


ill 


IV.  OF    KKVKNdK 

(it;r.) 

12:  lo.    wild.     Natural;  uncultivated. 

12  ■_*;'..    '-It  is  the  glory."  •le.     See  I'rov.  xix.  11. 

13:10.  no  law.  A  reterenee  to  or.;\>iuns  t'i>r  (luellinir,  a 
pr.ietioe  prevalent  in  liaeon'.s  day.  and  to  wiiieh  he  was 
strontrly  opposed. 

13:  i:;.  it  is  two  for  one.  That  is.  the  law's  punishment  is 
added  to  the  ori<:iiial  wronir  suffen'd.  and  one's  enemy  is  "still 
li.'t'uivhand."  or.  ;is  the  i>hrase  now  runs.  _  uhcad. 

13:20.  Cosmus.  A  descendani  ot'  tiie  lesser  hninch  of  the 
-nat  Medici  family,  who  became  Duke  of  Florence  in  15:'.?. 

13  :•_'').    Job.     See  .Job  ii.  10. 

14::',.  Pertinax.  Uoman  emperor,  nuirdered  by  .soldiers, 
\.i..  111."..  Racon  means  that  Aupistus  Ca-sar,  Septimius 
S.v.riis.  and  Henry  IV.,  of  France,  who  avenged  the  deatiis 
(it  the  persons  mentioned,   were  i)rosperous. 

V.  OF    ADVFKSITY 

This  essay  was  written  after  IJacon's  fall. 
14 :  H.    Seneca.    See  note  on  page  5,  line  16. 


i 


■i 


208 


yOTKS 


[1'a..k»  11-ir, 


14 : '.'.   Stoics.     See  iioto  on  page  H,  line  4. 
14:  11.    adversity.     Compare  Shakespeare's  As  You  Like  It, 
Aci  II,  S(.  i  :  -  - 

"  Sweet  .'ire  the  uses  of  a<lversity  ; 
Whicli,  like  the  toad,  ii<;l,v  ;ni(l  vpiionions, 
W.'iirs  yet  a  precious  jewel  in  his  hea<l." 

"Bona,"  ete.     See  context. 

14:  IS.    '•  Vere."' etr.     See  context. 

14 :  2o.  Hercules.  A  faiiie(i  hero  of  mythology,  who  achieved 
the  "Twelve  Labours  of  Ilercuie.s,'*  and,  after  hi.s  death,  became 
a  j:od. 

14 : 2(>.  Prometheus.  Another  liero,  son  of  lapetns  an<l 
("lyniene.  who  scaled  the  heavens  and  brouuht  back  the  tire 
withdrawn  from  earth  by  Zens  (Jupiter).  For  this  he  was 
condemned  to  be  chained  to  a  rock,  with  his  liver  eternally 
exposed  to  a  vulture's  hunger.  He  was  released  by  Hercules. 
The  myth  has  often  been  celebrated  in  poetry. 

15  : 4.   a  mean.     A  more  moderate  fashion. 

15:11.   David's  harp.    The  Psalms. 

15  :  2o.   discover.     Uncover;  reveal. 


VI.     OF   SIMULATION  AND   DISSIMULATION 

(1(12.5) 

This  essay  appeared  at  the  close  of  Bacon's  life.  It  indicat(>s 
at  once  his  worldly — sometimes  Machiavellian  —  wisdom,  and 
his  recognition  of  character  as,  afier  all,  the  thing  of  musL 
worth. 

16:1.   politics.     See  note  on  page  8,  line  10. 

16:-^.    Tacitus.    See  note  on  page  ">,  line  27.     sorted.     Har 
nioni/.ed  with. 

16  :  ■"•     Augustus.     See  note  on  page  o.  line  24. 

16 :  <).    Tiberius.    See  note  on  page  6,  line  26. 


Vm.v.^  10-lii] 


ytJTKS 


209 


16:7.  Vespasian.  Spe  note  on  pag"  5,  line  28.  Vitellius. 
See  iiott"  on   \y,\iH^  5,   line   I'J. 

16:l-">.  half  lights.  Couipaiv  the  Latiu  tr:  slatiou:  *As  it 
wcif.  in  twilight.' 

16:27.    managed.     Trained. 

17:11.    industriously.    I'lirposely. 

17  :•_'!.    in  that  kind.    TIuls  ;  in  that  way. 

17  :  -i'i.    open.     Bacon  .speaks  from  experience. 
17:27.    futile.     Loquacious  ;  literally,  leaky. 

18 ;  ■-'.  leave  to  speak.  That  is,  that  his  countenance  and  his 
\v>;,ls  n.mi'e.  Conipan-  H  nu^  rso  n :  "What  you  are  speaks  .so 
\o\u\  1  cannot  hear  what  you  .say." 

18::].   tracts.     Traits. 

18:10.  absurd.  I'nrea.sonable.  .Xpiilied,  as  Mr.  Aldls 
\Viii,'ht  tells  us,  to  the  answer  ,<,'iveii  by  a  deaf  man  (snr- 
ii'is),  which  does  not  touch  the  (juestion  ;  hence  absurdus, 
ilraf  to  reason. 

18  :  18.   oraculous.     Oracular  ;  haviiiLr  a  double  meaning. 
18:21.   except  it   be.     Note   the    iiiHuence   of   Machiavelli's 

\i(\vs.  He  was  a  great  writer  of  the  Italian  Renaissance,  a 
iint;ible  student  of  politics  and  statecraft. 

18::!0.  u'-e.  I'si'.  I'trivrd  from  the  French  hetir  (Latin, 
'iHijiirinm),  destiny,  experience,  fortune. 

19:10.    fair.     'Just,' simply. 

19:1(5.  set  it  even.  Hacon's  balancing  habit  constantly 
asserts  itself,  a  habit  temj)eramental  with  him.  but  conlirmed 
by  his  long  experience  as  lawyer  and  statesman.  C'ouiparo 
till'  Aiitithcta  in  the  De  Anymmtis. 

19:11>.  round.  Direct;  thorough.  A  reference  to  archery. 
See  note  on  page  Ji,  line  20. 

19 :  25.   trust  and  belief.    The  man  in  Bacon  will  out. 

19:2r..  composition  and  temperature.  Temperament.  Lit- 
iniU}  ,  combiuaiiou  and  bleuding. 


I  ! 


210 


NOTES 


[PAUE8  20-l>2 


VII.    OF  PARENTS   AND  CHILDREN 

(Itn'J.     Enlarged,  H»25) 
20:2.   nor.     The  aouble  negative  is  common  in  Elizabethan 
English.     Compare  Shakespeare's  Hamlet,  Act  I,  Sc.  2  :  — 
•«  It  is  not,  nor  it  cannot  come  to  good." 

20  :  13.   posterity.     So  that  tlie  childless  are  most  concerned' 
for  the  welfare  and  opinion  of  posterity. 

20:20.    Solomon.     See  Trov.  x.  1. 

20 :  2r).   wantons.     '  Pets ' ;  spoiled  favourites. 

21:2.    shifts.      Makeshifts;    disingenuous    schemes,     sort. 

Consort. 
21 : 4.   proof.     Result, 
21 :  S).    sorteth.    Turns  out. 

21  •  13.   lump.     Paniily-at-large. 

21:26.  -Optimum,"  etc.  'Choose  the  best,  custom  will 
make  it  agreeable  and  easy.' 

21  •  28  fortunat- .  In  that  they  must  depend  on  their  own 
efforts  for  advancement  and  recognition.  Bacon  himself  is  a 
case  in  point. 

VIII.     OF  MARRIAGE   AND   SINGLE   LIFE 

(1012.    Enlarged,  l()2r)) 

Bacon's  view  of  matrimony  is  not  romantic.  He  examines 
dispassionately  its  advantages  and  disadvantages.  The  student 
will  remember  that  lu-  failed  in  his  own  suit  for  the  hand  ..f 
Lady  Hatton,  and  married  Alice  Barnham  some  ten  years  later. 
See  the  Introduction,  pages  xv  and  xxvii. 

22 :  2.  hostages  to  fortune.  Pledges  that  he  will  run  as  few 
risks  as  possible. 


1>A..ES  22-23] 


NOTES 


211 


will 


22 :  i>.   greatest  care.    Contrast  the  pn-oeding  essay,  page  20, 
liiii's  S-18.     Can  you  reconcile  these  statements  V 
22    10.   dearest  pledges.     Compare   Milton's   Lijvidas,   line 

^^'  ■  ~~  "  Ah!  who  hath  reft,  quoth  he,  my  dearest  pledge?  " 

22:13.   impertinences.      Irrelevant  to  their    own   personal 
progranuues. 
22:17.   because.     In  order  that. 

22-2:5.  humorous.  Originally  applied  to  any  one  of  the 
four  principal  'humours'  or  moistures  of  the  body. -blood, 
phle-m,  choler,  melancholy  ;  later  restricted  to  apply  only  to 
the  mood  of  mirth.  Used  by  Bacon  as  by  Jonson  (compare 
Fvern  Man  in  His  TTumonr)  to  mean  w..imsical,  tastidious. 
(N.mpare  this  use  as  ,  sisting  in  Washington  Irving's  Sketch- 
linok  ■  "  were  I  to  mention  the  other  makeshifts  of  this  worthy 
.,ld  humourist,"  and  "grown  into  keeping  with  the  antiquated 
.nansion,   and   the  humours  of    its  lord."  -  The    Christmas 

Dinner. 
23 :  5.   indifferent.    Neutral. 
23 : 8.  For.     As  for  ;  concerning.    Compare  Hamlet,  Act  1, 

Sc  2 1—' 

'  ,  .  .    For  your  intent 

In  going  hack  1.)  school  in  Wittenberg 
It  is  int)st  retrograde  to  our  desire." 
Act  I.  Sc.  3  :  — 

"  For  Hamlet  and  the  trifling  of  Ids  favour, 
Hold  it  a  fashion,  and  a  toy  in  blood." 


Heartening  or  directing  speeches;    ex- 

«a;...  VXJ..W-.  The  "wear>-,  wayworn  wanderer"  of 
ll.>mer's  Odyssey  who  declined  Calypso's  offer  of  immortality, 
in  order  that  he  might  return  to  his  wife  IVnelope.  "  Vetu- 
1am  "  etc.     '  He  preferred  his  oUl  wife  to  imnu»rtality.' 


23:9.   hortatives. 

hortations. 
28:21.    Ulysses. 


1 


'2V> 


JiOTEH 


[Pages  •j:i~2(', 


23:22.  proud  and  froward.  Cunpare  Clif\steitoii's  Jiohrrt. 
Browniiuj,  Chapter  111 :  '•  He  hail,  what  is  perhaps  the  subtlest 
and  worst  spirit  of  efrotisni,  not  tliat  spirit  merely  which  thinks 
that  nothing  should  stand  in  the  way  of  its  ill-te'mpir,  but  that 
spirit  which  thinks  that  nothing  should  stand  in  the  way  of  L 
amiability." 

23:2!t.    quarrel.     (Jround  ;  occasion. 

24:2.  "not  at  all."  Thales  of  Miletus,  a  Greek  philo«„. 
pher,  is  credited  with  this  evasive  saying. 


IX.    OF  ENVY 

(1625) 

34:11.  fascinate.  In  his  AJvancetnent  of  Learning  and 
Natnral  History  Bacon  calls  attention  to  the  influence  vf 
spirit  upon  spirit  tiirough  the  medium  of  the  eye.  The  sinister 
idea  of  witclicraft  was  still  adhered  to. 

24:17.  Scripture.  See  Matt.  vi.  22,  23;  Luke  xii.  34- 
Deut.  xxviii.  54-")(».  ' 

24  :  19.    still.     Always,  as  freijuently  in  Shakespeare. 
24:20.  ejaculation.     -Castin!- out.' 

25  :  4.  fit  place.  See,  as  above.  Ue  Adeanremciit  of  Learn- 
infj.  Hook  II.  and  the  Xatuml  History. 

25:22.  "Non  est,"  etc.  'Whoever  is  of  a  prvii;.;  disposi- 
t ion  is  false-hearted.' 

25  :  24.  new  men.  A  Roman  phrase  for  the  first  members 
of  families  elevated  to  'place.' 

25  :.•}(».  impair  another's.  Compare  liichnra  III,  Act  I, 
Sc.  ],  the  Duke  of  (iloucester's  soliloquy. 

86 :  2.  his  nonour.  Compare  the  earlier  part  of  Thackeray's 
famous  novel,  I/enrij  Esmond. 

26  :o.   Narses.     A  great  Roman   general   under  Justinian. 


-«#■ 


l*.\r.KS  1>(J_30] 


^'OTES 


21o 


Agesilaus.     King  of  Spuria,  noted  for  his  milit 
iKiirth  century  m.c. 

26:().    Tamberlanes.     Horn  1, 
lior.     Conipare  Marlowe's  Tnmhnrl 

26:12.    levity.     Liditi 


ary  i)ro\vess. 


>•'•')  A.i>.,  a  noted  .Moiiirol  war- 


'///'  the  (ircat. 
bah 


i^iirhtness  ;  want  of  balauee. 
26:15.    Adrian.     Or,   Hadrian.     Kecanie   emperor  of   Rome 

A.I).   117.     He  is  reputed  to  have  banished  Apollodorus  the 

architect  on  account  of  the  latter's  unfavourable  criticism  of 

one  of  his  architectural  designs. 
26:2;].    incurreth.     I^ntcrctli ;  literally,  -runs  into.' 
26 :  27.   to  look  on.     And   therefore  there  was  no  possible 

reference  to  another's  good  or  biid  opinion. 

27 :  18.   darken   it.     Compare  our  colloquial  '  put  it  in  the 

shade.' 

27  :  21.   per  saltum.     '  At  a  bound.' 

27  :  23.   travels.     Travails  ;  toils. 

27 :  29.    ' '  Quanta  patimur.' '     '  How  much  we  suffer  I  ♦ 

28.12.    well.     Happy  ;  satisfied. 

28 :  23.   disavow  fortune.     Virtually  confess  his  unfitnes.s. 

28 :  21).  lot.  The  spell.  '  Sorcerer '  is  derived  from  the 
Latin  sors,  French  .sort.  Compare  the  Biblical  narratives  of 
the  casting  out  of  evil  spirits. 

29 :  2.   derive.     Turn  aside. 

29:7.    undertaking.     Over-ready;  rash. 

29:2.3.   plausible.     Literally,  as  here,  'deserving applause.' 

29  :  30.  kings  and  estate :  themselves.  Compare  the  history 
of  Bacon  as  Lord  Chancellor. 

30 :  !>.  of  all  other  affections.  Idiomatic.  '  Of  all  the  affec- 
tions.' 

30 :  12.    "  Invidia,"  etc.     '  Envy  takes  no  holidays.* 

30  :  10.   envious  man.     See  Matt.  xiii.  25. 


r/'i     :( 


214 


IfOTES 


[Pacjes  30-31 


X.     OF  LOVE 

(1612.     Much  enli»rged,  lfi25) 

Notice  Bacon's  characteristically  cool,  sagacious,  prudential 
Tiew  of  this  subject, — one,  if  any,  that  would  afford  him  op- 
portunity  for  'poetizing'  a  little.  He  becomes  much  more 
eloquent  on  "  power  to  do  good  "  in  the  succeeding  essay. 

30 :  23.  beholding.  A  seventeenth-century  form  of  '  be- 
liolden.'' 

31 :  4.  not  one.  \n  elastic  statement,  though  rendered  fairly 
safe  by  the  use  of  '  mad.' 

31 : 0.  weak  passion.  Compare  Bacon's  "  Love  is  a  nuisance, 
and  an  impediment  to  important  action."  Says  Miss  Agnes 
Kepplier,  in  her  Marrhuje  in  Firtbn) :  -'That  pleasant  old 
romancer,  Maistro  Kusticiano  di  Pisa,  tells  us  that  a  courtier 
once  asked  Charlemagne  whether  he  held  King  Meliadus  or  his 
st»n  Tristan  to  be  the  better  man.  To  this  question  the  Em- 
peror made  wise  reply :  '  King  Meliadus  was  the  better  man, 
and  I  will  tell  you  why.  As  far  as  1  can  see,  everything  that 
Tristan  did  was  done  for  love.  .  .  .  Now  tliis  same  thing  can 
never  be  said  of  King  Meliadus.  For  what  deeds  he  did,  he  did 
them,  not  by  dint  of  love,  but  by  dint  of  his  strong  right  arm. 
Purely  out  of  his  own  goodness  he  did  good,  and  not  by  con- 
straint of  '  ve.'  " 

31 : 7.  »i.  IS  Antonius.  Or,  Mark  Antony,  triumvir  with 
Octavian  anil  Lepidus.  Slew  Iiimself  n.c  30.  See  Shake- 
speare's Julius  C(vsar  and  Antontj  and  Cleopatra. 

31 : 0.  Appius  Claudius,  the  decemvir.  One  of  the  Roman 
Council  of  Ten.  He  was  unlawfully  enamoured  of  Virginia. 
See  Macaulay's  Lays  of  Ancient  Borne, 

31:15.  Epicurus.  See  note  on  page  6,  line 4.  "Satis,"  etc. 
*  Each  of  us  is  to  his  fellow  a  theatre  large  enough.' 


ri' 


I'vciKs  31-34] 


NOTES 


21  r. 


31 :  18.  a  little  idol.  The  eye,  which  induces  worsliip  of 
wliat  it  sees.     Compare  line  20  below. 

31 :  22.  braves.  Despises  any  suggestion  of  the  relative  im- 
portance of  thinjjs. 

31 :  2(J.   well  said.     By  I'lutarch. 

31 :  27.   have  intelligence.     That  is,  '  are  related  to.' 

32 : 1.  well  said.  By  Publilius  Syrus  of  Antioch,  first  cen- 
uiy  B.C. 

32 : 5.   reciproque.    Adjective.    Mutual. 

32 :  0.   reciproque.     Noun.     Corresponding  affection. 

32:11.  Helena.  Helen  of  Troy,  given  to  Paris,  a  Trojan 
shepherd,  by  Venus,  in  return  for  his  famous  judgment  award- 
inir  her  the  golden  apple  as  the  fairest  of  goddesses.  Venus 
was  the  goddess  of  love  and  beauty. 

32:12.  Juno.  Consort  of  .lupiter,  and  hence  queen  of  the 
gods.     Pallas.     Or,  Minerva,  the  goddess  of  wisdom. 

32:14.    his.     'Its' was  rarely  used  in  Bacon's  day, 

32 :  20.    keep  quarter.     Remain  within  due  bounds. 

32:21.  check.     Interfere. 


XI.     OF   GREAT  PLACE 

(ir.l-J.    Enlarged,  1625) 

When  this  essay  appeared  in  1(312,  Bacon  had  become  Solic- 
itor. It  was  revised  and  enlarged  in  1(52").  The  student  will 
note  the  vein  of  personal  experience  throughout. 

33: 13.  it.    The  antecedent  is  '  rising  unto  place.' 

33:10.  "Cum,"  etc.  'When  you  are  no  longer  what  you 
have  been,  then  there  is  no  further  reason  for  desiring  to  live.' 

34 :  o.  strangers.  Comparatively  unacquainted  with  their 
own  more  personal  aiSairs. 

34:8.  "Illi,"  etc.  'Death  weighs  on  him  heavily  who  dies 
known  of  all  men,  but  to  himself  a  stranger.' 


21C 


^^(^TEii 


[Paoks  ;i4-;',»i 


34:12.    can.     Be  able. 

34:1.S.  power  to  do  good.  Among  Bacon's  noblest  senti- 
ments. 

34 :  18.  motion.    Activity. 

34 :  19.  conscience.    Consciousness. 

34:22.  "Et  conversus,"  etc.  'And  God  ttirned  to  behold 
all  the  works  which  his  hands  had  fashioned,  and  .saw  that  thty 
were  all  very  good.' 

34 :  24.  Sabbath.  The  time  of  rest  after  the  accomplishment 
of  good. 

84:2(3.   a  globe.     A  collection. 

35:3.   bravery.     Ostentation  ;  boastfulness. 

36:5.  Reduce.     Literally,  as  here,  'carry  back.' 

35 :  12.   express  thyself  well.    Explain  your  course  clearly. 

35 : 1 5.   de  facto.     '  As  a  matter  of  course.' 

35:23.   facility.     Fickleness. 

35:25.   interlace.    Intermix;  allow  to  become  entangled. 

35 :  26.  necessity.  Compare  tliis  sentence  with  Bacon's  wise 
statemeni  of  liis  policy  as  Lord  Chancellor. 

35 :  2!).  offering.  Kocall  the  carelessness  of  Bacon's  servants, 
and  the  gift-giving  custom  of  his  time. 

36 :  8.   inward.     Intimate  ;  close  to  his  master. 

36:  14  worse  than  bribery.  Compare  77*/-  Advanremeiif.  <>/ 
Learning,  Book  II:  "A  corrupt  judge  offendeth  not  so  lightly 
{_i.fi.  yields  not  so  quickly]  as  a  facile." 

36:17.    Solomon.     See  Prov.  xxviii.  21. 

36:21.  "Omnium,"  etc.  '  Everybody  would  have  judged 
him  fit  for  empire,  even  though  he  had  never  been  emperor.' 

36:22.  Tacitus.  See  note  on  page  5,  line  27.  Galba.  See 
note  on  page  5,  line  30. 

36:23.  Vespasian.  See  note  on  jmge  5,  line  28.  "Solus," 
etc.  '  Vespasian  was  the  only  emperor  who  [becoming  such] 
changed  for  tne  better.' 


l'A..Es  :0(J-;3O] 


NOTES 


217 


36 :  25.   sufficiency.     Masterfulness  in  statecraft. 
36 : -'7.    honour  amends.     Whom  prosptrity  improves. 
37 :  2.   to  side  a  man's  self.     To  take  sides  with  one  party  or 
other. 
37 :  •^.   balance  himself.     Bu  neutral ;  witliout  partisanship. 
37 :  10.  place.    Othce.     See  line  11  below. 


XII.     OF  BOLDNESS 

(KLT.) 

37 :  16.  Demosthenes.  Greatest  of  Athenian  orators,  384- 
:!22  B.C. 

38 :  3.  Boldness.  Bacon  more  than  once  touches  on  his  ow'n 
litisonal  deticiency  in  boldness,  a  characteristically  English 
t  lulowment.     Compare   Shakespeare's  Julius  CcKsaVt  -^ct  II, 

"  Cowards  die  many  times  before  tlicir  deaths." 

Compare  also  Spenser's  Faerie  Queciie,  Book  III,  Canto  XI:  — 

**  And,  as  she  lookt  abcut,  sh    did  behold 
How  over  that  »a,n\e  ilore  was  likewise  writ, 
Be  hohle,  be  holde,  and  every  where,  /?'■  bold ; 
That  inufh  slio  miiz'd,  yet  could  not  construe  it 
By  any  ri<llinj;  skill,  or  <'ommnne  wit. 
At  last  she  si»yd(;  at  that  rowmes  upper  end 
Another  yron  dore,  ou  which  was  writ. 
Be  not  too  buhl." 

38 :  10.  popular  states.     Democracies. 
38 :  16.  mountebanks.     Quacks ;  charlatans. 
38 :  21.    Mahomet.     Sec  note  on  page  10,  line  27. 
39 :  H>.   into  a  most  shrunken  and  wooden  posture.     Compare 
Wa.sliiuglon  living's  'The  Aiujlcf  ■   ''The  mantelpiece  was  dec*'- 


218 


NOTES 


[Pages  39-42 


rated  with  seashells.  over  which  huiij;  a  quadrant,  flanked  by 
twi)  woodcuts  of  most  bitter-looking  naval  commanders." 

39 :  18.  a  stale  at  chess.  A  stalemate ;  that  is,  when  the 
game  so  develops  that  one  player  cannot  move  without  expos- 
\\vr  his  king  to  check,  mate.  Chei-kmate,  the  term  used  to 
indicate  that  the  game  is  linished,  one  player's  king  being  in 
check  and  unable  to  extricate  himself. 


XIII.    OF   GOODNESS,    AND   GOODNESS   OF   NATURK 

(1(512.    Enlarged,  1G25) 

39 :  24.   affecting  of.     Aiming  at ;  seeking. 

40: 0.  excess  but  error.    See  line  22  below. 

40:  18.    Busbechius.     A  Flemish  diplomat,  1522-1592. 

40:  2(5,    Machiavel.     See  note  on  page  18,  line  24. 

41 : 8.  .ffisop's  cock.  ^Esop  (^Esopus)  was  a  Phrygian  (?) 
philosopher,  who  gave  currency  to  the  so-called  vEsopic  Fables, 
most  of  which  existed  in  some  form  or  another  long  before  his 
time.  Compare  "  Cast  not  your  pearls  before  swine."  —  Matt. 
vii,  6, 

41 :  12.  just  and  unjust.    See  Matt,  v.  45. 

41:17.  divinity.  Theology.  "Thou  shall  love  thy  neigh- 
bour as  thyself."  —  Matt.  xxii.  39. 

41 :  10,    follow  me.     See  Mark  x.  21. 

42:1.   difficileness.    Obstinacy. 

42 : 2.  mere.  Sheer  ;  complete.  Compare  bhakespeare's 
Hamht,  Act  I,  Sc.  2:  — 

"Fie  on't!  ah  fie  !  'tis  an  unweeded  garden 
That  grows  to  seed ;  things  rank  and  gross  in  nature 
Possess  it  merely." 

42 ;  4.   loading  part.    Making  heavier  one's  misfortunes. 
42  :u.  Lazarus'  sores.     See  Luke  xvi.  21. 


•^mmmm 


l'v.;i>  42-43] 


NOTES 


211) 


42:7.  misanthropi.  Haters  of  men.  Contra.'^t  page  40,  lino 
1.  •  iiliiliintliropiii.'' 

42:'.*.  Timon.  Tinion  of  Athens  owned  a  .small  plot  i)f 
uiouiul,  on  which  iiivw  a  fiti  tree.  Heinj;  about  to  euL  down  tlii^ 
tive  in  order  to  build,  he  invited  any  persons  who  wished  to 
liaiiti  themselves  to  make  u.se  of  the  tree  before,  in  Shakespeare's 
plirase,  it  had  '•  felt  the  axe." 

42  :  12.   politics,     roliticians. 

42:17.  citizen  of  the  world.  As  was  liacon,  at  his  best. 
liiiversality  is  a  prime  test  and  trait  of  •^reatnes.s. 

42:2t).  trash.  Money.  Originally,  'bits  of  broken  sticks 
found  under  trees,'  then  'refuse,'  then  a  term  applied  to  innney 
in  a  spirit  of  indifference.  Compare  Shakespeare's  Othello, 
Act  III,  Sc.  3:  — 

"  Who  steals  my  purse  steals  trash;  'tis  something,  nothing." 

42 :  28.  salvation  of  his  brethren.    See  Rom.  ix.  3. 


XIV.     OF  NOBILITY 
(1012.    Revised  and  enlarged,  1625) 

43:2.   estate.     State. 

43  :  5.   attempers.    Modifies. 

43:9.   stirps.    Stocks;  families. 

43  :  12.   flags.     The  insignia  of  a  noble  family. 

43  :  i:5.   Switzers.    Swiss. 

43 :  14.  cantons.  Or,  counties,  of  which  Switzerland  has 
many. 

43 :  15.  respects.  Regard  for  station.  Compare  "  For  there 
is  no  respect  of  persons  with  God."  —  Bom,  ii.  11. 

13:1S.   indifferent.     Impartial. 

43:21.  presseth.  Depresseth.  Compare  Essay  XXIX,  page 
103,  lines  24-28. 


220 


NOTt:s 


[Pages  44-4(i 


44:1.3.  virtuous.  From  the  Latin  virtus,  manly  worth- 
hence,  as  luic,  m;ist.rfnl,  strong,  able. 

44 : 1.-).  a  commixture.  A  frank  ncognition  of  the  worldly 
methods  of  i.la.-e-hunters.  though  not,  as  some  think,  a  per- 
sonal endorsement  of  sueh  '  little  wisdom  '  as  etliical. 

-A .  22.  motions  of  envy.  Compare  Essay  IX,  page  2u,  line 
lio  neq. 


XV.     OF   SKDITIOXS    AND   TROUBLES 

(1<;2.".     Much  fiilargod  from  the  Ms.  of  l(;o7-U;i2) 
45:1.   calendars.     A  statement  of  the  moon's  pijases.  etc 
for  each  month  :  liere,  therefore,  si-ns  or  predictions 

45:1.  equinoctia.  The  equinox.  Fron.  a7/««.,.  equal,  and 
no^,  ni,,ht  The  tinH>  of  the  sun's  entrance  upon  the  equinoc- 
tial line,  when  the  .lays  an.l  nights  are  of  equal  length  the  world 
over  'I  he  vernal  equinox  occurs  about  March  21  ;  the  autumnal 
about  S<'ptember  23. 

45  :  7.  ''  Ille  etiam,"  etc.  '  He  also  [the  .sun]  ,>fte>»  warns  us 
of  the  conung  ..f  obs..ure  troubles  and  of  gathering  treason  and 
looming  wars.'     From  Vergil's  fhorgirs,  I. 

45:0.   licentious.     Loose;  gro.ss. 

45  :  11.   Fame.     Hunif  ir. 


45:  lo.    "Iliam   Terra 


11 


etc.     'She  W..S   the   last   child  of 


Kurth.  as  the  story  goes,  sister  to  Enceludus  and  Cceus,  borne 
by  her  nu.ther  enraged  at  the  anger  of  the  gods.'  From  Ver- 
gil  syEiieid,  IV. 

45  :  21.   plausible.     See  note  on  page  20.  line  23. 

45  :  20.    Tacitus.     See  note  on  page  5,  line  27 

46  :  1.    •>  Conflata  "  etc.     •  When  envy  is  excited,  all  actions, 
whether  good  or  bad.  offend.' 

46  :  3.   that.     Redundant ;  used  probably  for  clearness 

46  :  0.    -  Erant,"'  etc.     '  They  kept  their  posts,  yet  rather  aa 


I'AUES  4H-4H] 


SOTKS 


221 


;f  they  preferred  to  criticise  the  orders  of  their  ofi&cers  than  to 
Mbey  thotii.' 

16  ;  13.  af^say.     Kssny  ;  attempt. 

16  :  17.   Machiavel.     See  note  on  pa;;e  18,  line  24. 

46  :  18.  common  parents,  (iuardian.s  u£  the  interests  of  all 
he  people. 

46  :  22.  league.  The  Holy  LeagiK',  organized  in  1575,  led  by 
the  hou.se  of  (iui.se.  having  a.s  its  ultimate  object  the  succes-sion 
of  Catholics  only  to  the  throne  of  France.  In  1588  Henry  111. 
was  expelled  from  Paris. 

47  :  1.   of.     For. 

47  :  4.  primum  mobile.  The  ruler  corre.spond.s  to  the  •  primum 
mobile '  in  the  old  astronomy.  This  was  the  tenth  spher*',  enelo-s- 
iiig  the  solar  system.  It  completed  its  revolutions  in  twenty- 
four  hours,  its  motion  affecting  that  oi"  the  iinier  spheres.  The 
phrase  means  •  hrst  moved.' 

47  : 7.  their  own  particular  motion.  The  manner  of  their 
individual  activity. 

47:8.  "liberius."  etc.  'Too  freely  to  suggest  respect  ^'- 
government.' 

47  :  12.  -'Solvam,"  etc.  '  I  will  loose  the  girdles  of  kings.* 
See  Isa.  xlv.  1. 

47  :  10.   part.     Discussion. 

47  :  28.   bear  it.     Allow  it. 

47  :  28.   It.     Nair.i'ly,  the  proposition  that  follows. 

47  :  21).  Lucan.  Or,  M.  Annseus  Lucanus,  a  native  of  Spain, 
who  went  as  a  youth  to  Rome  during  the  reign  of  Nero.  Hh  at 
length  offended  the  emperor  by  his  superiority  as  a  poet,  and 
was  condemned  to  death. 

48:1.   ''Hinc  usura,"  etc.     'Hence  came  devouring  usury 
and  greedy   interest  at  the  day  of   reckoning,  hence   shaken 
credit,  and  war  a  benefit  to  many.'     From  Lucan's  Pharsalin 
The  original  has  *  amdum '  for  '  rapidum.'' 


«'a;rSjffT'^«HJ*s-jte..'ft  v«  rf  T 


-s, 


NOTES 


[1'a<;es  48-51 


48  :  10.   humours.     See  note  on  page  22,  line  23. 
48:  12.    this.     Tliat  is,  what  follows. 

48:18.    "Dolendi,"  etc.     '  There  is  a  limit  to  pain,  but  noi 
to  fear.'  — From  l'liiiy\s  Lc/tf'rs,  VIII. 
48  :  20.    mate.     See  note  on  page  ;J!),  line  13. 

48  :  28.    ••  The  cord."  etc.    Compare  '•  It's  the  last  straw  that 
breaks  the  cumers  back." 

49  :  {).   just.     Api)ropriate  ;  adecjuate. 

49:17.    sumptuary    laws.      Laws    regulating  expenditures. 
Latin,  ftumptiiarins,  from  .s»mo,  sumcre,  sumptuvi. 

49  :  22.    stock.     Trodiice. 

49 :  30.   necessity.    Want ;  poverty. 

50  : .;.    preferments.     Salaried  places  of  service, 
60  :  f).    estate.     State,  as  before. 

50:  <;.  foreigner.  Only  a  half-trut'.i.  the  reverse  proposition 
being  also  true.  Kxchanges  between  nations,  as  between  per- 
sons, may  benefit  both. 

50:0.    vecture.     Lntin  r^hn,  vexf,  vfctum,  to  curry. 

50  :  12.    '-materiam,"  etc.     See  conte.xt. 

50:  Ifi.    mines  above  ground.     A  bold  fignre,  signifying  rich 
resources  other  than  mineral, —as   manufacturing,    carryin'^ 
etc.  ^     "' 

50 :  20.  muck.  .Manure.  Tompare  the  "  man  with  the  muck- 
rake"  in  Bunyan's  Pihjriias  ProrjreHs. 

50:22.    strait.     Strict;  controlling. 

50:24.  engrossing.  Huying  in  gross  ;  monopolising,  great 
pastu-ages.  Large  tracts  of  la.  appropriated  for  the  suste- 
nance of  sheep,  as  the  wool  trade  grew. 

50:27.    noblesse.     Aristocracy. 

51 :  7.    Jupiter.     The  ruler  of  the  i^ods,  corresponding  to  the 

(Jrer-k  Zeus. 

51 :  8.  Pallas.  See  note  on  page  32,  line  12.  Briareus.  Or, 
vEgeon,  a  famous  giant,  having  a  hundred  hands  and  fifty  heads' 


!'A(iES   ")l-0.'{j 


XOTHS 


51  :  14.   bravery.    Audacity  ;  bravado. 
51:17.    imposthumations.       Ab.scesses.      Compare     Shake- 
spt-are's   Hamht,   Act  IV,   Sc.  4:  — 

"This  is  tlx'  iiiiposthunu'  of  iiiiuh  wealth  and  peace, 
That  inward  breaks,  and  shows  no  cause  without 
Why  the  man  dies." 

51  :  IH.   Epimetheus.     Afterthought,    mought.     Might. 

51  :  11).  Prometheus.  Forethought ;  and  see  note  on  page  14, 
line  2(5. 

51 :  ■-'3.   artificial.     Skilful. 

52:  1.    peremptory.     Inevitable. 

52  :  4.    brave.     Assume  as  their  '  platform.* 
52:1*!.    fronted.      Confronted. 

52:29.  "Sylla."  etc.  -Sylla  ilid  not  know  his  letters,  and 
could  not  dictate.'     A  pun  on  the  last  word. 

53  : 1.   Galba.     Set-  note  on  paue  r>,  line  80. 

53::'.  -'Legi,"  etc.  'That  he  levied  his  soldiers,  and  did 
not  buy  them.'' 

53  :  4.  donative.  Granting  of  gift.s.  Probus.  Roman  em- 
peror,  '27<)-'Jl-i2  a.i>. 

53  :  5.  '•  Si  vixero,"  etc.  '  If  I  live,  the  Roman  Empire  shall 
have  no  further  occasion  for  .soldiers.' 

53  :  12.    flat.     Dull  ;    tiresome. 

53:18.    useth.     Is  accustomed. 

53:21.  ''Atque  is,"  etc.  'Such  \va.s  the  state  of  feeling 
that  a  few  dared  undertake  evil,  more  desired  it,  all  condoneo 
it.' 

53  :  24.   popular.     Solicitous  of  public  favour. 

53 :  25.   correspondence.     Balance  ;  equilibrium. 


■■^m 


224 


N^or^s 


[Page  o4 


XVI.     OF  ATHEISM 
(1612.     Much  enlarged,  IGL'5) 

Bacon's  religion,  though  sincere,  is  given  .somewhat  formal 
expression  in  language.  In  his  great  work.  The  Advancement 
of  Learning,  he  hesitates  to  attempt  a  'pliilusophy '  of  religion, 
but  seeks  ratlier  to  make  of  it  a  '  department '  of  life.  Accord- 
ingly, Bacon's  personal  goodness  is  greater  than  his  remarks 
concerning  religious  topics.  Yet  the  present  essay  contains 
several  vital  and  noble  sentiments. 

5"  :  1.  Legend.  The  (iohfen  Legend,  containing  stories  of 
tho  saints,  etc.,  written  by  Jacobus  de  Voragine,  Archbishop 
of  Genoa,  born  about  1230. 

54 :  "J.  Talmud.  Civil  and  canonical  laws  of  the  Jews.  Al- 
coran. Or,  Al  Koran.  The  Mohammedan  'Bible,'  dictated  to 
Mohammed  by  Gabriel,  as  the  legend  runs. 

54  :  4.   convince.    Refute. 

54  : 0.  a  little  philosophy.  Compare  Pope's  Essay  on  Criti- 
cism, Part  II :  — 

"  A  little  learning  is  a  dangerons  thing; 
Drink  deep,  or  taste  not  the  Pierian  spring." 

64:0.  second  causes.  Efficient  causes.  "For  example," 
says  Abbott,  "the  lightning  parting  the  air  is  the  efficient  or 
sect^id  cause  of  the  tliundcr.  of  which  God  is  the  lii-st  cause,'' 

64  :  15.  Leucippus.  Founder  of  the  atomic  theory.  Deraoc- 
ritus.  Exponent  of  the  same  theory,  born  n.c.  4(30.  Epicurus. 
See  note  on  i^age  0,  line  4. 

64 :  17.  fifth  essence.  The  quintessence  regarded  by  Aris- 
totle as  composing  the  heavenly  bodies. 

54  :  l',».  portions  or  seeds.  Or,  atoms,  unplaced.  Not  given 
their  due  or  appropriate  t»rder. 

54 :  22.   Scripture.     See  Psalm  xiv.  1. 


Pages  54-o0] 


NOTFS 


22o 


54  •  25.   that.     The  theorj'. 

55  :  5.   fainted  in  it.     Bei  ame  doubtful  of  it. 

55:10.  "Non  deos,"  etc.  'Profiinity  does  not  consist  in 
denying,'  the  gods  of  the  people  ;  but  in  applying  popular  con- 
ci'ptious  to  the  gods.' 

55  :  20.  Plato,  n.c.  427-o-t7.  The  renowned  i)liilosopher  of 
Athens,  fairly  to  be  regarded  as  the  greatest  iigure  in  the  his- 
tory of  philosophy. 

55  :  23.   nature.     Existence. 

55:20.  Jupiter.  See  note  on  page  51,  line  7.  Apollo.  Or, 
I'luebus,  son  of  Jupiter  and  Latona.  Patron  of  tlie  tint'  arts, 
and  master  of  nuisic,  poetry,  and  eloquence.  Mars.  Or,  Ares, 
son  of  Jupittr  and  Juno.     God  of  war  and  lover  of  Venus. 

56:1.  contemplative.  Reaching  his  conclusions  by  pure 
thought. 

56  :  2.  Diagoras.  A  fifth  century  (b.c.)  philosopher.  Bion. 
A  witty  connnentator  on  men  and  ideas,  who  lived  in  the  lliird 
century  n.c.     Lucian.     See  note  on  page  1,  line  U. 

56  :  13.  scandal  of  priests.  Ecclesiastical  immorality,  against 
which  great  evil  the  wise  and  good  have  cried  out  through  the 
centuries.  Compare  Chaucer's  Proloanf  to  thi-  CnutcrJiury 
Tales,  Milton's  LycUhi!^.  Kuskni's  Sesame  awJ  Lilits,  Hrown- 
iug's  The  Eu){i  and  t1u>  Book.  Compare  also  the  fretiuent 
Serii)tural  rebukes  of  priestly  selfishness  and  hypocrisy. 

56:14.  St.  Bernard.  Abbot  of  Clairvaux.  a  noblo  priest, 
horn  A.I).  1001.  "  Non  est,"  etc.  '  One  cannot  now  say,  "  The 
priests  are  as  bad  as  the  people,"  f<n-  now  the  people  are  better 
than  the  priests.' 

56:21.  to  religion.  Compare  George  Herbert's  Tlie  Pulley 
and  A.  II.  Clough's  There  is  no  'rod. 

56:2--).  base  and  ignoble  creature.  Compare  Browning's 
A  Death  in  the  Desert:  — 


fi 


226 


NOTES 


[Page  5(1 


"  But  if,  jippealiiifif  tlicucc,  lie  cower,  avouch 
He  is  mere  niau,  and  iii  liuuiility 
Neither  may  know  (uxl  imr  mistake  liiniself; 
I  point  to  the  immediate  eon.sequence 
And  say,  by  sucli  eonfessioi:  strai^^ht  he  falls 
Into  man's  i)laee.  a  thinu  nor  (4od  nor  beast, 
Made  to  know  that  he  can  know  and  nt>t  more: 
lA)w<'r  tliau  God  who  knows  all  and  can  all, 
Higher  than  beasts  which  know  and  can  sr.  far 
As  each  beast's  limit,  perfect  to  an  end, 
Nor  conscious  that  they  know,  nor  craving  more; 
AVhile  man  knows  partly  but  conceives  beside, 
Creep.-i  ever  on  from  fancies  to  the  fact. 
And  in  this  strivinj;,  this  converting  air 
Into  a  solid  he  may  grasp  and  use. 
Finds  j»rogress.  man's  distinctive  mark  alone. 
Not  (iod's.  and  not  the  l)easts':  (4od  is.  they  are, 
Man  partly  is  and  wholly  hopes  to  be." 

66 :  20.   maintained   by  a    man.      Compare    Tennyson's   In 
Memoriam.  Lyric  (13  :  — 

"  Yet  i)ity  for  a  horse  o'er-driven. 

And  love  in  which  my  hound  has  part, 
Can  hang  no  weight  upon  my  heart 
In  its  assumpti(»ns  up  to  heaven  ; 

"And  I  am  so  much  more  than  these 
As  thou,  perchance,  art  more  than  I, 
And  yet  I  spare  them  sympathy. 
And  I  would  set  their  pains  at  ease. 

"So  mayst  thou  watch  me  where  I  weep, 
As,  unto  vaster  moti-uis  bound. 
The  circuits  of  thine  orbit  round 
A  higher  height,  a  deeper  deep." 

Cnniparp  also  Manri(^e  Maet(Tliiick's  Our  Friend  the  Dop :  "  lie 
occiipiesjn  thi.s  world  [the  brute  creation]  a  preeminent  posi- 


rA«;E» 


^OTKS 


007 


I  inn,  enviable  among  all.  He  is  the  only  living  being  that  has 
tniind  and  recogn'.*'s  an  indubitable,  tangible,  unexceptionable 
and  definite  god.  He  knows  to  what  to  devote  the  best  part  of 
iiiniself.  lie  knows  to  whom  above  him  to  give  himself.  He 
has  not  to  seek  for  a  perfect,  superior,  and  inliiute  power  in  the 
darkness,  anutl  successive  lies,  liypotlieses,  ai\d  dreams.  That 
pi.wer  is  there,  before  liini,  and  lie  moves  in  its  light.'" 

56  :  ;;0.   melior  natura.     lietter  nature.     See  page  o7,  line  2. 

57:11.  Cicero.  Marcus  'lullius  Cictro,  greatest  of  Honian 
orators,  n.c.  l()<l-4:'..  "  Quam  volumus,"  etc.  'Esteem  our- 
selves n.-ver  so  highly,  Conscript  Fathers,  yet  we  cannot  com- 
pare wit'.i  the  Spaniards  in  numbers,  the  Gauls  in  bodily 
>trenuth.  the  Carthaginians  in  cunning,  the  (ireeks  in  art,  nor 
yet  with  our  own  Italians  and  Latins  in  the  homely  and  native 
sentiment  ])eculiar  to  this  land  and  people;  but  we  liave  sur- 
passed all  other  peoples  and  nations  in  piety  and  religion,  and 
in  our  attestation  of  the  one  great  principle,  that  all  things  are 
subject  to  the  government  of  the  Immortal  Gods.' 


XVIT.     OF   SrrEHSTITION 
(1<)12.     Revised  and  enlarged,  1(525) 

57 :  22.  contumely.     Mockery. 

57:21.    Plutarch.     A  celcbrat  ek  biographer,  born  in 

RoM)tia,  at  Cha^ronea.     About  A.n.  -. ".   120. 

58::>.  Saturn.  Or,  Kronos.  a  god  who,  according  to  the 
(h-eck  tradition,  devoured  his  children. 

58  :  lo.   Augustus  CsEsar.     See  note  on  page  5,  line  24. 

58  :  14.    civil.     Teaceful. 

88 :  !••.  primum  mobile.  See  note  on  page  47,  line  4. 
ravisheth.     Sweeps  around  with. 

88 :  l'.>.  in  a  reversed  order.  Other  than  in  the  natural 
manner 


:-i 


228 


NOTES 


[Pagks  68-oy 


68:21.  Council  of  Trent.  A  famous  general  council  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  assembled  at  Trent  by  Pope  I'aul  III. 
in  1545,  and  not  concluding  its  work,  owing  to  delays  and  sus- 
pensions, until  15r);},  It  di.scussed  and  settled  many  matters  of 
doctrine  and  reform,  as  deciding  the  attitude  of  the  Church 
toward  the  principles  of  Luther  and  the  Heformation.  school- 
men. A  name  applied  to  the  philosophers  of  the  Middle  Ages, 
whose  attempt,  in  their  'Scholasticism,'  was  to  buttress  the 
principles  and  practices  of  the  Church  with  the  authority  of 
Aristotle. 

58  :  23.  eccentrics  and  epicycles.  "  According  to  the  Ptole- 
maic sy.stem,'*  says  Abbott,  "the  planets  were  .supposed  to 
move  in  ^»)  circles  whose  centres  themselves  luoved  in  (2) 
circles.  The  former  circles  were  called  '  on-circles,'  or  epi- 
cycles;  the  latter,  having  their  centre  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  earth,  were  called  eccentric  ('  from-centre  ')." 

58 :  24.  engines  of  orbs.  (3rbits  invented  to  accord  with  the 
described  phenomena. 

58 :  25,  no  such  things.  Compare  Milton's  Parndisp  Lust, 
Book  VIII,  itself  based  on  the  Ptolemaic  astronomy,  for  artistic 
reasons  :  — 

"How  they  will  wield 
The  mighty  frame  ;  how  build,  unbuild,  contrive 
To  save  appearances  :  how  gird  the  sphere 
Willi  centric  and  eccentric  scribble;!  o'er, 
Cycle  and  epicycle,  orb  in  orb." 

58 :  20.  causes.  High  Churchmen  and  Puritans  are  both 
indicated  here. 

59  :  K).  in  avoiding  superstition.  Another  of  Bacon'r  unfor- 
gettable proverbs,  testifying  to  the  balance  of  his  mind  and  the 
justness  of  his  temper. 

59  :  11).    would.     Ought  to. 


.  .<*-iiiffit 


■iSit,-'tlBti"i''i  ...*^^'v^- '.  'VKr 


yOTES 


'JL9 


I'AOES  09-02] 

59:21.  reformer.  These  last  remarks  were  -^^^'^  "^'^ 
,ud  show  Bacon's  disUke  of  the  Puiitau  pvogra.ume.  Cou.p..,re 
the  Introduction. 


XVITI.     OF  TRAVEL 
(1625) 

Compare  with  this  essay  En.erson's  remarks  on  travel  in  his 
J^euiLa  Culture,  beginning  'I  an.  not  nu.ch  an  advo- 
Ite  for^ravellin.."  Each  writer  gravely,  En.erson  the  more 
directly,  strikes  a  balance. 

6J:i.   allow.     Endorse ;  approve.  ,     ,      ,      , 

60  •  10.   diaries.     Verhaps  a  reference  to  the  log-book. 

60-17.   consistones.   Meetings;  councils.  .,,     ^„ 

60  ;  21.   disputations.     For.nal  debates,  or  pole.nic  theses. 
60 :  25.   burses,     lioursis  ;  exchanges. 

61  :11.   card.     Chart. 

61:1H.   adamant.     Magnet ;  lodcstone. 

«;f«:  ^  ^  proOt.    one  .  re„,-,n„ea  o.  t..  wo.my 
„Wom  of  Polouius  as  lu.  bi.ls  l.aertes  farewell.  - //...«/.'■ 

''"4'' r  suck  the  experience.     Oather  information  concerning 
„r;  ^ountrl;  by    virtue   of  contact  .i,h   those   who   have 

travelled  therein.  ,  ,  i  ^,i 

62-4.   the  life.     The  person  in  tlesh  and  blood. 
'      fis'lij    advised.     Discreet  ;  thoughtful. 

S;u.  UUstories.    A  connnon  failins  of  travellers  !■>  all 

times. 
62  :  ly.  prick  in.     Plant,. 


230 


yOTKS 


[Paoks  &2-{ji 


XIX.     OF   EMPIRE 

(1612.    Revised  and  eiihuxed,  1H25) 

62 :  24.   matter  of  desire.     Subjects  of  further  ambition. 
63  :  2.    Scripture.     vSee  Prov.  xxv.  3. 
63:9.   toys.     Trme.s. 
63  :  10.   order.     Society  or  i.isiitution. 

63:12.  Nero.  Emperor  of  Rome,  a. n.  64-()8.  Originally  a 
quiet  and  studious  youth,  he  became  the  most  di.ssolut*^  and 
cruel  of  tyrants.  He  Killed  his  mother,  Ai^a-ippina  ;  divorce.l 
Ins  wife,  Octavia;  is  reputed  to  have  burned  Rome  in  k.v.  04. 
that  he  might  be  zo  iu.spired  to  celebrate  musically  the  destruc- 
tion of  Troy ;  cruelly  murdered  many  Christians  and  political 
and  private  enemies;  and  finally  slew  himself  a.i>.  08. 

63:1:5.  Domitian.  Emperor  of  Home,  a. d.  81-96.  He  was 
a  second  Nero.     Assassinated  a.i».  90. 

63:14.  Commodus.  Emperor  of  Rome,  a.i>.  180-192,  a 
sensual  and  vicious  man. 

63 :  lo.  Caracalla.  Joint  emperor  of  Rome  with  (ieta,  his 
brother,  whom  he  nmrdered.  Gibbon  describes  him  as  "  the 
common  enemy  of  mankind."     A.ssassinated  a.[>.  217. 

63  :  2.').  Alexander  the  Great.  Son  of  Philip  of  .Macedonia, 
he  became  a  world-con(|ueror,  and  died  at  Babylon,  n.c.  .'i28. 
Diocletian.  Emperor  of  Rome,  a.d.  284-;}05.  He  lived  .several 
years  after  his  abdication  of  the  ;  irone  with  his  colleague. 
Maximian.  He  was  an  able  soldier  and  a  fair  statesman. 
Charles  V.  Abdicated  in  15.50,  and  entered  upon  a  life  of 
asceticism.  He  even  had  his  own  obsequies  perfornied  before 
him  a  month  prior  to  his  death. 

63  :  28.   is  not  the  thing  he  was.    Compare  Essay  XI,  page  m. 
line  10. 

63  :  29.   temper.     Blending  of  qualities,  or  of  '  contraries.' 

64  : 1.   distemper.     Refusal  of  the  '  contraries  '  to  mix. 


l'A(.Ks  04-0(5] 


NOTES 


231 


64 : 3.  Apollonius.  A  first-century  miracle-worker.  Ves- 
pasian.    See  note  on  page  ">,  line  28. 

64 :  10.  interchange.  Referring  to  the  two  phrases  that 
f..llow. 

64  :  in.   deliveries.     Modes  of  escape. 

64  :  'j;5.   Tacitus.     See  note  on  page  6,  line  27. 

64  :  24.  "  Sunt  plerumque."  etc.  'The  desires  of  kings  are 
i'(  iierallv  violent  and  arbitrary.' 

64  :  25.   solecism.     Weaknes.s  ;  defect. 

64  :  20.   mean.     Means. 

65  :H.   approaches.     Means  of  inva.sion. 

65  :  17.  peace  at  interest.  The  interest,  that  is,  of  future 
disadvantage. 

65:10.   Guiccardine.     Italian  historian,  1488-1540, 

65  :  21 .  Lorenzius  Medices.  Or,  Lorenzo  de'  Medici,  the  great 
lialian  publicist  and  patron  of  art. 

65  :  23.   schoolmen.     See  note  on  page  58,  line  21. 

65  :  24.  precedent.  Preceding.  Note  the  Machiavellian  in- 
fluence here. 

65  :  20.  Livia.  Wife  of  Augustus,  emperor  of  Rome.  Com- 
pare Essay  II,  page  5,  line  25  ;  Essay  VI,  page  10,  line  3. 
infamed.     Disgraced  ;  made  infamous. 

65:30.  Roxolana.  Solyman's  wife.  Solyman  reigned  as 
Sultan  of  Turkey,  1 520-1. ")20. 

66  : 1.  Mustapha.  Roxolana's  stepson,  slain  by  her  that  the 
succession  might  be  seciired  to  her  own  .son. 

66:3.  his  queen.  The  possessive  sign  's  was  early  con- 
founded with  '  his.' 

66:7.   advoutresses.     Adulteresses. 

66: 17.    Crispus.     Executed  in  a.o.  320. 

66 :  18.  Constantinus  the  Great.  Succeeded  Diocletian  as 
sole  emperor  of  Rome,  a.i>.  323-;i37.  He  respected  Christian- 
ity, and  made  Constantinople  his  capital. 


ill 


!     ■  !' 


NOTES 


{\\\i.v.AiWh-is; 


68 :  22.  Julianus.  Cousin  of  Constaiitine,  and  the  last  of 
Constantint's  lint-  to  occupy  tlie  throne. 

66 :  24.    Demetrius.    ExecutctJ  in  n.c.  170  on  a  faLso  accusation. 

66:  2!).  Selymus  I.  Called  Solynian  tlie  Mayniticcnt.  Baja- 
zet.  A  rebellious  son  of  Selynui.s,  who  was  executed  by  his 
father. 

66 :  30.  three  sons.  Henry,  Geoffrey,  and  Richard,  warrin-,' 
kinsmen. 

67  :  ;3.  Anselmus.  Anselm,  a  noted  French  scholar,  who  bt  - 
came  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  during  the  reign  of  William  II. 
Thomas  Becket.  Made  Archbishop  by  Henry  II.,  he  (juar- 
relled  frequently  with  the  king,  and  was  murdered  in  the  cathe- 
dral by  four  knights,  who  interpreted  one  of  Henry ".s  passionate 
speeches  as  Becket's  death-warrant. 

67 :  4.  crosiers.     Official  staffs  of  the  archbishops. 

67 :  5.   try  it.     Contend. 

67 :  8.   that  state.     The  clerical  order. 

67 : !).   foreign  authority.     The  papacy. 

67:1;).   depress.     Keep  .  wn. 

67:21.    fain.     Constrained,  though  reluctantly. 

67; 

67: 
Ellis. 


zt. 


they.  Referring  to  the  '  higher  nobility.' 
oO.  vena  porta.  The  gate  vein.  '•  The  metaphor."  says 
"is  historically  curious;  for  no  one  would  have  used  it 
since  the  discovery  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood  and  of  the 
lacteals.  Rut  in  BaconVs  time  it  was  supposed  that  the  chyle 
was  taken  up  by  the  veins  which  converge  to  the  rena  porta. 
The  latter  immediately  divides  into  branches,  and  ultimately 
into  four  ramifications,  which  are  distributed  throughout  the 
substance  of  the  liver,  so  that  it  has  l)een  compareil  to  t'le 
trunk  of  a  tree  giving  off  roots  at  one  extremity  and  branches 
at  the  other.  Bacon's  meaning,  ilierefore,  is  that  commerce 
concentrates  the  resources  of  a  country  in  order  to  their  redis- 
tribution." 


rAUKsOH-nitj 


yoiKS 


23.i 


68  :  '^.  imposts.     I.t'iral  levyings. 

68:0.  in  the  shire.  Wliat  is  gained  in  part  is  lost  in  the 
wliole.  ••  Ilundretr'  ivfi'is  to  an  old  I'orni  uf  division  in  the 
cduuties  ;  "  leeseth  *'  moans  losctli. 

68:14.  janizaries.  Curniptt'd  from  a  Turkish  phrase  for 
•iifW  troops,'  a  corps  established  in  1.".20.  and  eonntused 
lai;;ely  of  Christian  captives. 

68:  lo.  Pretoria^  bands.  Instituted  by  Augustus  and  given 
ilouble  pay. 

68:10.  several.     Distinct;  separate. 

68:23.  '-Memento  quod  es  homo."  'Remember  that  you 
lire  a  man.' 

68:24.  "Memento  quod  es  Deus."  'Remember  that  you 
are  a  god.'     '•  vice  Dei."     '  (iod's  vicegerent.' 


XX.     OF   COUNSEL 

(1(512.     Enlarged,  ItJ'Jr. ) 

The  results  of  Bacon's  long  experience  as  a  member  of  the 
court  and  a  servant  of  state  are  reduced  to  these  thoughtfully 
organized  and  balanced  suggestions.  If  they  seem  too  snutotli 
and  even  in  tone,  let  it  be  reniemt.ered  that  Bacon  was  a  chess- 
player who  moved  slowly  and  warily,  but  none  the  le.ss  with 
zest,  hope,  and  sincerity. 

68 :  20.  greatest  trust.  Compare  Ten.yson's  The  Coming  <>f 
Arthur:  — 

"  And  Arthur  said.  '  Man's  word  is  God  \\\  man  ; 
Let  oliance  what  will.  1  trust  thee  to  the  death.'  " 

69:  10.    Solomon.     Set-  Prov.  xx.  18. 

69:12.  agitation.  Note  the  i)aronomasia.  A(jitare  \n  I'^.iin 
means  'to  toss'  (see  "tossed"  following)  and  'to  discuss' 
(see  subject  of  essay). 


A 
»■ 

J'' 


234 


yoTj-js 


[l'v.iKsC5>-7.j 


69:  1<i.    Solomon's  son.     Helmboaiu.     See  1  Kiiius  xii. 

69:  "Jl.   young.     Uehobniim  hee<U'(l  young  counsellors. 

69:22.    matter.     Meaniui; ;  policy. 

69:  2()     Jupiter.     Sec;  note  on  pMi^e  f)!,  line  7. 

69:27.  Metis.  Daughter  of  Occanus  and  'I'ethys,  and  tir.st 
wife  of  Jupiter. 

70:4.    Pallas.     See  note  on  page  .".2,  line  12. 

70:  17.   resembled.     I.ikened. 

71:1.  cabinet  councils.  Secret  coiuicils,  not  the  modern 
'cabinet.'  An  early  nianu.script  copy  of  tlic  h'smys  pre.served 
in  the  British  Museum  reads,  after  the  word  "disease"  :  "which 
hath  turned  Metis  the  wife  to  Metis  tiie  mistress,  that  is, 
councils  of  state  to  which  princes  are  married,  to  councils  of 
gracious  persons  recommended  chiefly  b.  Hattery  and  affection." 
Buckingham,  no  doubt,  is  meant. 

71 :  2.   disease.     See  Es.say  XV,  page  5:!,  lines  2«{,  27. 

71:5.  extract  and  select.  The  tir.■^l  verb  refers  to  "mat- 
ters," the  second  to  ''counsellors." 

7i:lO.  "Plenus,"  etc., 'I  am  lull  of  cracks.'  futile.  Sec 
note  on  page  17,  line  27. 

71 :  11).    grind  with  a  hand-mill.     Serve  himself. 

71:24.  Morton.  John  Morton,  liishoi)  of  Kly,  afterward 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  Fox.  IJichard  Fox,  liishop  of 
Winchester,      Both  were  friends  and  counsellors  of  Henry  Vil. 

71 :  29.  dependencies.     Dependents. 

72 :  2,   holpen.      Archaic  fcn-m  of  past  participle  '  helped.' 

72:1.  "Non  inveniet."  etc.  'He  shall  not  find  faith  on 
the  earth.'     The  ''  '  words  of  Ks.say  I. 

72:10.  "Print  -;.  etc.  'It  is  a  ruler's  greatest  virtue  !c 
inow  his  subjects. 

72:18.    speculative.     Prying ;  inquiring. 

72:20.  their.  Modern  syntax  would  require  'his,'  which 
would,  however,  make  the  pronouns  of  the  .sentence  more  am- 


l'A<iE8  72-74] 


yoTES 


L»;i:» 


l,is:iious  than  they  are.     lli'W  would  you  reconstruct  the  8eu- 
i.iice?     nature.     Personality. 

72:27.  obnoxious.     Exposed  ;  inthienced  by. 

73:5.  the  good  choice  of  persons.  A  recosnition  of  '  the 
man  behind  the  matter.'  Bar  ,:  looks  upon  -matiers'  as 
!ii;ule  for  men,  not  civr  r<'rsn, 

73  :  7.   secundum  genera.     '  Hy  clas.ses.' 

73:11.    ''Optimi."  et'O.    •  The  best  oo'iiscllors  are  the  dead.' 

73:12.  blanch.  Shrink;  show  timidity.  iNuiipare  Shaken 
speare's  Hamkt,  Act  II,  Se.  2  :  — 

•'  I'll  tem  him  to  the  quick  :  if  he  but  bleneh, 
I  know  my  course." 

73:20.  "in  nocte  consilium.'"  'There's  counsel  in  [the 
lapse  of]  a  night.' 

73:2.J.  a  grave  and  orderly  assembly.  Bacon  was  pn  sent 
as  a  prominent  adviser.     See  Introduction,  page  xxvi. 

73:  2(5.    hoc  agere.     '  Attend  to  business.' 

73 :  28.   indifferent.     Neutral. 

73  :  oO.  standing.     Permanent. 

74 :  2.    some  provinces.     Certain  subjects. 

74 :  7.     mintmen.     Skilled  coin  workers. 

74:10.  tnbunitious.  Forward.  The  tribunes  represented 
the  Roman  plebeians  as  against  the  patricians. 

74:20.  take  the  wind  of  him.  Catch  his  meaning;  accord 
with  his  ideas. 

74: 21.   placebo.    '  I  will  please.' 

XXL     OF  DELAYS 

Bacon's  experience  as  a  suitor  in  both  love  and  politics  made 
him  acquainted  with  the  virtue  of  patience,  and  wise  to  note 
the  time  of  preparation  and  the  moment  of  action. 


Jj 


236 


NOTES 


[Pages  74-7' 


74:24.  Sibylla's  offer.  An  old  woman  offered  Tarquinin> 
Priscus  the  books  of  the  Sibyl,  but  he,  not  understandinii  their 
importance,  refused  to  buy  them.  Thereupon  she  burned  sev- 
eral and  increased  the  price  of  the  remaining  books.  This 
proce.ss  was  repeated  until  Tarciuinius  was  advise<l  by  an  augur 
to  close  the  bargain. 

74:L'<!.    still.     Always. 

75: -J I.  Argus.  '"  -i'eatorides.  was  set  by  Juno  to  watch 
lo.  whom  Jui.itei  naa  .nade  an  heifer.  lie  had  an  hundred 
eyes,  which  wiur  ;u.  closed  in  sleep  by  the  lyre-playing  ol 
Hermes,  or  Mercury,  who  tlien  slew  him. 

75  :  •!•!.  Briareus.    Sec  note  on  page  ol,  line  8. 

75:2:],  Pluto.  Son  of  Saturn  and  Ops,  and  king  of  the  infer- 
nal regions.  His  h(  Imet  made  the  wearer  invisible.  Compare 
Homer's  Iliad,  \' .  145. 


XXII.     OF   CUNNING 

(1»)12.     (4reatly  enlarged.  1H25) 

76:5.  pack  the  cards.  Arrange  them  unfairly;  that  is. 
obtain  the  initial  advantage  by  means  of  their  cunning. 

76:12.    practice.     Intrigue.     C(mipare  our  -sharp  practice.' 

76:  1<).  '-Mitte."  etc.  'Send  them  both  naked  [without 
familiar  aids]  among  strangers,  and  you  will  see.' 

76:21.  Jesuits.  .V  celebrated  religious  order  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  founded  by  Ignatius  of 
Loyola  in  15.".4.  It  has  had  large  influeuce  in  determining  both 
ecclesiastical  and  political  affairs. 

76:24.    would.     Should;   ought  to. 

77:0.  secretary.  Cecil  or  Walsingham.  Compare  Apoph- 
thegm 84. 

77:11.   cross      Preveiit ;  interfere  with,    doubts.    Fears. 

77:24.   Nehemiah.    See  Neh.  ii.  1. 


^(iE<  :^-^o] 


X(>TKS 


ZVi 


78 : !.    Narcissus,  e'to.     Narcissus  was  secrotary  to  the  Human 
iiipivor  ("laiulius.    wln-se   wite    Mossaliiia   married    Silius,  a 

iltlt".     Narcissus  inforuiecl  the  euiperor  of  this  fact  indirectly, 

irouiih  two  women,  whose  story  brought  about  the  exaniina- 
1  ;.iu  of  Silius. 

78:l'.».  apposed.  (.Questioned.  Compare,  as  an  excellent 
; lustration  of  this.  Kdmund  in  Shakespeare's  Kiixj  Lear,  Act 
I.  Sc.  2. 

78: -2").  two.  Supposed  to  be  Sir  Robert  Cecil  and  Sir 
i  honiaa  Bodley. 

78 :  2Ck   kept  good  quarter.     Maintained  friendly  relations. 

79:0.   cat.    Cate.  or  cak(>. 

79:17.    Tigellinus.    Nero's  depraved  favourite. 

79  :  18.  Burrhus.  A  thoughtful  counsellor  of  Nero,  executed 
by  him  a.i..  (i:;.  "  Se  non."'  etc.  'He  had  no  conflicting  de- 
sires, but  looked  sindy  to  the  safety  of  the  emperor.' 

79  :  2.1.   in  guard.     As  not  responsible  for  direct  assertions. 
80:1.   how  far  about  they  will  fetch.     How  remotely  and 

indirectly  they  will  'come  to  the  point.' 

80  :  o.  lay  him  open.     Kxpi^st-  his  secret  thousht  or  attitude. 
80  :  7     Paul's.     St.  Paul's  Church,  a  common  haunt  or  meet- 

iiiLT-place  of  citizens.     Ciiaucer  tells  us  of  the  Wife  of  Bath  in 
liis  Vi-ohxjHf  (i>  the  CnnUrhnry  ToIps  that 

"  Honsbondes  at  chirchc  dore  she  hadde  tyve," 
;uid  lie  praises  the  Poor  Parson  because  he  did  not.  like  many 
wthersin  orders,  run 

"...  to  Loudoun,  unto  Seinte  Ponies, 
To  seken  liyin  a  chauuterie  for  souUs, 
Or  with  a  bretlu'rhed  to  beeu  withholde." 

80 :  10.  wares.  Tricks  ;  h  ..s.  Bacon  is  not  sponsor  for 
such  habits,  though  familiar  with  them.  He  sees  their  reb.i- 
tive  weakness  an<l  unimportance.    See  page  70,  line  18. 


h 
* 


I 


'n^ 


238 


yo7ES 


[Pages  80-h: 


80:14.   resorts.     Sources. 

80  :  If),    main.     The  chief  part. 

80  :  IH.    looses.     Ways  out. 

80  :  24.   Solomon.     See  Prov.  xiv.  15. 

80  :  2o.  "  Prudens."  eti-.  '•  The  simple  belie veth  every  word  : 
but  the  prudent  man  looketh  well  to  his  going."  {Revised 
I'ersioH.) 


«4 


XXIII.     OF   WISDOM   FOR    A   MAN'S   SELF 

(1«)1'J.    Enlarged,  hV>n) 

81:2.   shrewd.     Mischievous;  troublesome. 
81 :  8.   right  earth.     Precisely  like  the  earth,  around  which. 
) bought  Bacon,  the  heavenly  bodies  revolve. 
81 :  18.   crooketh.     Bends. 

81  :  V.K   eccentric.     Opposed, 

82  :  4.  bias.  A  cliarge  of  lead  inserted  in  the  bowl,  which 
dcllects  it  from  a  straight  course.  Compare  iShakespeare's 
Ilamh't,  Act  II,  Sc.  1  :  — 

'  And  tluis  do  we  of  wisdom  and  of  reach, 
With  windlasses  and  with  as.suys  of  bias, 
By  indirections  find  directions  out." 

82  :  11.  to  roast  their  eggs.  Compare  Lamb's  essay,  A  Dis- 
scrtafinn  on  Unast  Piij. 

82  :  •-';5.  Cicero.  See  note  on  page  57,  line  11.  Pompey.  Or, 
Cneius  Pompeius,  who  became  triumvir  with  C;esar  and  C"ras- 
sus.  A  breach  followed,  and  Pompey  was  defeated  by  Caesar 
at  the  battle  of  Pharsalia.  He  escaped  to  Egypt,  where  he  was 
assassinated  b.c.  48. 

82:24.  '-sui  amantes,"  etc.  'Self-lovers  without  a  rival.' 
Compare  Browning's  Pippa  rasses,  first  interlude:  "The  airs 
of  that  fellow,  that  Giovacchinu  1     He  was  in  violent  love  with 


m 


I'u.ES  83-85] 


XOTKS 


2.'>9 


himself,  and  had  a  fair  prospect  of  thriving  in  his  suit,  so 
uinnolested  was  it,  — when  suddenly  a  woman  falls  in  love  with 
bim,  too ;  and  out  of  pure  jealousy  lie  takes  himself  off  to  Tri- 
este, immortal  poem  and  all." 


XXIV.     OF   INNOVATIONS 

83:  1.  births,    offspring. 

83  :  7.   perverted.     The  old  theolo^zy  held  that  there  is  In  man 
;i  •  radical  twist '  toward  evil. 
83  :  12.   of  course.     Naturally  ;  in  due  course. 

83  :  17.   fit.     Appropriate  to  the  conditions, 

84:  (5.  pairs.    Impairs,     holpen.     Archaic  form  of  'helped.' 
Compare  Essay  XXIX,  page  105,  line  1{». 

84  :  13.  pretendeth.     Uses  as  its  programme,  without  lefer- 
ence  to  ultimate  motive. 

84:15.    suspect.     A  thing  under  .suspicion.    Scripture.     See 

,ler.  vi.  16. 

XXV.     OF   DISPATCH 

(1012.     Slightly  enlarged,  W2Ji) 

84  :  19.   Affected.    Unduly  desired. 

84  :  25.  races.    See  Eccl.  ix.  11. 

85:4.  for  the  time.  Consulering  the  (shortness  of  the) 
lime,  false  periods,  etc.  Apparently  completed  transactions ; 
in  reality  uncompleted. 

85  :  5.   because.     In  order  that. 

85  :  10.  a  wise  man.  Sir  Amyas  Paulett,  whom  Bacon  as  a 
young  man  accompanied  to  France. 

85  :  15.   hand.     Price. 

86  :  19.   Spain.      Long  the  characteristic  reputation  of  that 


240 


A'OTKS 


IVm.esHo-H^ 


country,  whose  diplomacy  has  been  ami  is  noted  for  its  habit  of 
polite  procrastination. 
85  :  27.   moderator.     Master  ;  examiner. 

85  :  '2S.   actor.     The  person  speaking  or  examined. 
86:2.    curious.     Involved  ;  elaborate. 

86  :  4.   passages.     Transitions. 
86  :  T).   excusations.     Apologies. 
86  :  7.    bravery.     <  )stentatioc 

86  :  8.  material.  Direct ;  scorning  preparation  of  the  hear- 
ers' minds. 

86:11.    unguent      Ointmem 

86  :  20.  pregnant  of  direction  Suggestive  of  other  method.s 
or  adjustments  than  the  ulan  rejected 


XXV  .     OF   SEEMING    WISE 

(1612     Last  sentence  added,  1625) 

87  :  5.   Apostle.     St.  Paul.     See  2  Tim.  iii.  •"). 

87  :  8.    "  magno,"  etc.     '  Trifles  with  a  great  effort.' 

87:11.  formalists.  Petty-minded  persons.  •', seeming  wise." 
prospectives.  (llasses,  similar  to  our  stereoscope,  which  induced 
visional  dimension  when  flat  surfaces  were  examined  througli 
them. 

87:21.  Cicero.  See  note  on  page  57,  line  11.  Piso.  A 
Roman  consul. 

87:24.  "Respondes,"  etc.  'You  reply,  with  one  eyebrow 
raised  to  your  forehead  and  the  other  lowered  to  your  chin, 
that  you  do  not  like  cruelty.' 

87  :  2().   bear  it      Carry  it  through. 

88:2.  make  good  Prove,  or  confirm.  Compare  our  mod- 
ern colloquialism. 

88.7  blanch.  Gloss  over;  avoid.  See  note  on  page  73, 
dne  12.     Gellius.    Aulus  Gellius  was  a  Roman  grammarian  who 


l'^GV>8H-Sl)] 


iVO'/A'.S 


241 


lived  (luring  the  period  of  the  Antonines.  Uis  Xo.7f>s  AUir<>' 
is  a  notable  work  of  criticism  and  travel.  Mr.  Wrigl.t  states 
that  Bacon  is  in  error  in  attributing  this  passage  to  Gellius.  and 
that  he  quotes  troni  memory  the  substance  of  one  of  Quintil- 
ian's  remarks  concerning  Seneca. 

88:8.    "Hominem,-'  etc.     'A  silly  fellow,  who  disturbs  the 
serious  concerns  of  business  with  verbal  quibbles.' 

88  : 1).    Piato.     See  note  on  page  Go,  line  20. 

88:10.    Protagoras.      Prodicus.     Two    Atluiiian    Sophists. 
( »,„■  of  the  Platonic  dialogues  is  given  the  name  of  i'rotagoras. 

88:  14.    to  be.     In  being. 

88 :  20.    inward.     Disguised  ;  the  '  uiwardness '  of  his  condi- 
tion being  hid  by  pretence  of  prosperity. 

88  :  21.   their.     False  syntax  in  modern  English. 

88:23.   opinion,     reputation. 

XXVII.     OF  FRIENDSHIP 

(1()25.  The  brief  essay  of  l<n2  is  hardly  a  iiuelons) 
This  essay  has  especial  reference  to  the  long  and  gracious 
friendship  between  Bacon  and  Toby  Matthews.  The  edition  of 
1012  contains  a  very  short  treatment  of  the  topic  ;  that  of  l<.2o 
redeems  his  promise  to  Matthews:  "For  the  Essay  of  Friend- 
ship, while  I  took  your  speech  of  it  for  a  cursory  request,  1  took 
„iy  promise  for  a  compliment.     But,  since  you  call  for  it,  I 

shall  perform  it." 

The  student  will  do  well  to  consider  also  in  relation  to  this 
.ssay  Bacon's  connection  with  Essex  and  with  Bucku.gham. 
Emerson's  essay  on  the  same  subject  should  be  read  for  many 
interesting  iwints  of  similarity  and  divergence. 

89:  1.    him.     Aristotle,  m  his.  PoUtics. 

89:t».   aversation.    aversion. 

89;  10.   sequester,    withdraw. 


HI 

til 

fii 

Hi 


241 


NOTES 


[Paoes  89-91 


89:l:{.  Epimenides.  A  Cretan  poet,  fabled  to  have  fallen 
rslt't'U  ill  a  cave  wliih^  a  youth,  and  to  have  reniaincil  asletp 
for  tifty-seven  years.  Numa.  Niuna  I'onipilius,  successor  tu 
Honuilus  as  king  of  Rome,  u.c.  71(i-()7;].  He  is  said  to  have 
founded  tiie  Honian  reliiiious  institutions,  receiving  instruction 
from  the  nyinjih  Ki;eria  in  the  grove  of  Aricia. 

89:  14.  Empedocles.  A  Sicilian  philosopher  reputed  to  have 
thn  \vn  liiniself  into  the  crater  of  Mount  vEtna  in  order  to  create 
the  impression  that  he  was  a  god.  See  Mctthew  Arnold's 
Uni/it'tfiiiics  an  Etinr. 

89:  l'>.    Apollonius.     See  note  on  page  04,  line  3. 

89 :  19.  a  gallery  of  pictures.  Compare  Tennyson's  /,( 
Memoriam,  Lyric;  70  ;  Stephen  Phillips'  Favex  at  a  Fire. 


89: 
89: 
tudc' 
89: 
90: 
90: 


•20. 


tinkling  cymbal.     See  1  Cor.  xiii.  1. 

'Magna  civitas,"  etc.     'A  great  city  is  a  great  soli- 


2(>.   mere.     Conii)lete  ;  utter. 
10.    sarza.     Sarsaparilla. 

l'».  a  true  friend.  Compare  from  Emerson's  essay  on 
Frhiuhhip :  ■•The  end  of  frienuship  is  a  commerce  the  most 
.strict  and  homely  that  can  be  joined  ;  more  strict  than  any  of 
which  we  have  experience.  It  is  for  aid  and  comfort  through 
all  the  relations  and  passages  of  life  and  death.  It  is  lit  for 
serene  days,  and  graceful  gifts,  ami  country  rambles,  but  also 
for  rough  roads  and  hard  fare,  shipwreck,  poverty  and  perse- 
cution.'' 

90  :  27.   sorteth  to.     Tends  to  ;  results  in. 

90 :  29.   privadoes.     Bosom  friends. 

91:2.  ''participes  curarum."  'Partners  in  cares.'  The 
Roman  emperor  Tiberius  so  named  his  chief  advi.ser,  j^.lius 
Sejanus. 

91 :  11.  Sylla.  L.  Cornelius  Sulla,  a  Roman  of  high  military 
genius,  who  successfully  led  an  army  against  Marius  in  RomB, 


I'vGEs  01-03] 


Norj':s 


I   also  ..li'foatt'd  the   r..ntic  kii.ir   Mit 


•J4;'. 


hridati'S.     Ho   be.aiiu' 


;i;it 

aictator  an< 


il  consul,  and  dk-d  n.r.  TS. 


91 : 1-'.   Pompey 


■itH'  no 


itc  on  l>^^u'  S2,  lint'  "j:'.. 


91 


10.   Julius  Caesar,  a   iir.at.  s.-Mirr   a 


nd    slalt'sman.  Ih'st 


91 
92 
92 
92 


'  44  by  conspirators  led  by  C  Cassias  Lon.n.us  and  Ma nns 

unius   1  rntus      Decimus   Brutus.      On.   of   .he   conspirator.s 

r^  cLar,  to  vvhom  his  viethn  had  be^tu-athed  the  control 

■:rc"alpine  (laul.     He  was  ptU  to  death  by  At.tony  s  orders,  tn 

Aciuileia  b.c  4:1. 
91 :  2(*>.   Calpurnia.     The  wife  of  Tasar. 

;  no.    Antonius.     See  note  on  pa-e  :n,  line  7. 
•  •>     Augustus.     See  note  on  pa-e  :..  hne  24. 
■  ;>■    Agiippa.     M.  Vipsanins  Agrippa.  adviser  of  Aucrnstus 
;    Macenas.     C.  Cilnius  Ma-cenas,  another  adviser,  and 

natron  of  art  and  literature. 

92-0     Tiberius  Casar,  Sejanus.    See  note  on  page  01,  lim.-. 

92  ;  12.  hLc  pro,"  etc.  '  Uecatise  of  our  friendsh.p  I  have 
„ot  concealed  these  tlioughts.' 

92  •  K'.  Septimius  Severus.  See  note  on  page  ..,  hue  -. 
Plautianus.     Pra^orian  prefect,  representing  ^^^^^'^^^^^^ 

92-22.  Trajan.  Emperor  of  Rome.  v....  0«-ll<.  Marcus 
Aurelius.     Emperor  ....  KH-ISO.     Two  ^-^^f^^         ,  .^^^. 

93-.:).   Comineus.     rhiUpiH-  J^'  Com.nes,  the   Hench   histo 

'^/^ci^LtheHariy.    Charles  the  Hold.  IMtUe  of  Bttr- 

atttlos  Zu^..  .00.     He  sup^rted  the  theory  of  metem- 

1      ;.     r  tV,P  triiiKnu"vation  of  s'juls  mto  vai.vmg  uomts. 
psychosis,  or  the  tiansnii---ii-i  .  „     .        .^,  ryr   s,.   i  ._ 

Compare  Shakespeare's  Mnrhant  oj  lemce^  Act  I\  ,  he.  l . 

"Thou  almost  inak'st  n.e  waver  in  my  ^aith, 
To  hold  opinion  with  Pythaiforas, 


244 


NOTES 


[Pages  93-W 


That  souls  of  aDinials  infuse  tbemselves 
Into  the  trunks  of  men." 

and  TireJfth  Night,  Act  IV,  Sc.  2 :  — 

"  Clown.  What  is  the  opinion  of  Pythagoras  concerning  wild 
fowl? 

"  Ma/roUo.  That  tlie  soul  of  ()ur  grandam  inijxht  happily  inhahit 
a  bird. 

"  Clown.    Wliat  thiiikest  thon  of  his  opinion  ? 

"  Mdlvoll'K  I  think  nobly  of  the  soul,  and  no  way  approve  his 
opinion." 

93:17.   admirable.     Wonderful. 

93  :  "20.   praying  in  aid.     Seeking  tlie  assistance. 

94:21.  Themistocles.  An  At' <^nian  statesman  and  leader, 
lie  lived  in  the  sixth  and  fifth  centuries  r.c. 

94 :  22.  cloth  of  Arras.  Tapestry  (made  chiefly  in  the  town 
of  Arras,  hence  the  name,  'arras'). 

94  :  23.   put  abroad.     Unfolded  ;  spread  out. 

95:  2.  statua.  Statue.  So  elsewhere  in  Bacon,  and  once  in 
Shakespeare. 

95  : 7.  Heraclitus.  A  Greek  philosopher,  born  at  Ephesus 
about  535  n.c,  died  about  475  b.c. 

95  :  8.    Dry.     Clear  ;  uncoloured  by  the  senses  or  feelings. 
95 :  25.   flat.     Tame  ;  dull ;  insipid.     Compare  Shakespeare's 
Hamlet,  Act  I,  Sc.  2 :  — 

"How  weary,  stale,  flat,  and  unprofitable 
Seem  to  n>e  all  the  uses  of  this  world  !  " 

96 : 3.   St.  James.     In  his  epistle,  L  23,  24. 

96:12.    fond.     Foolish. 

96 :  13.   when  all  is  done.     Nevertheless ;  after  all. 

96 :  23.  bowed  and  crooked  to  some  ends.     Compare  from 

Emerson's  essay  on  Friendship :  "Let  me  be  alone  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  lather  than  that  my  friend  should  overstep,  by  a 


l'v(.Krt<.t7-".>«] 


yOTKS 


24;") 


,,.,l  „,  ,  look,  his  veal  synpathy.     1  am  equally  balked  b 
;^Uusn.  and  by  co.npUance.     Let  him  m.  cease  an  ms  an 
,  b;  hin^self.    Th.  only  joy  I  have  in    us  be.n,  mme  .s  ^  ^ 
...  I    i,„t(.    where  1    lot>kcd    toi  a  n»am\ 

,,  :  a  ce,  ,.!■  at  lea»t  a  .uauly  rc.istauce,  to  l.u.l  a  ,„us  ,  .. 
!:,„'o.sio„.     B.tt.T  be  a  „f.tlc  h,  the  mU  of  your  ff.crt  tLan 

'  '  sr''-'"'  kill  the  patient.     Itacon's  Imti.our  is  tl,<.  move  .•IteM- 

f  ....,T  vYV    imi'i'  114.  lines  -4— (>. 
•'Tf:;.  sttte'ea 'ouiel.    Suggestions  f to„>  various  sources. 

97  :  U.   to  life.    To  (tiie)  life. 

at  ■  ir»    cast.     Count. 

97  :    8'   anther  himself.     Atis.o.le  used  su.^h  an  express.on 
,.,„paL^ain  F.„K.son  on  F,-,>„«,>:  -A  '"e-a  ti-;^"^^^ 
i.  a  sort  of  paradox  in  nature.     I  who  aloue  am.  I  who  see 

o  hinTin  nature  wh.,se  existence  I  can  affirm  w,th  e<,nal  ev  - 
:;     c  ■  o  u  t;:,  bCoW  „ow  «.  semWance  of  my  ;-;_"g  -" 
its  hei..ht,  variety,  and  curiosi.y.  reiterated  m  a  foreign  form 
':d,'.rt  a  friend  may  well  be  reckoned  the  „>a»terp,ece  of 

""97' W    their  time.     Their  last  day  ;  their  appointed  mon«nt 
,.f  dealh.  'cipare  Thomas  Hardy's  '^- f  ^.f;^*'';;  '•,,;• 

.-She  sttddeuly  •^'-tltXrfr::  allldrof  ::,a\er 
niooc  it  hpr  fairness,  tnat  ineie  v><in  ^^i.  ci  .,11 

■"'if  rTmn  cat.  scarce  allege.  Bacon  himself.  thougU 
,.unctiHo«s,y"™rteons.  was  not.  it  must  he  -^-ed^Jf  "''»* 
lackward  in  valuating  and  even  recommendmg  hunselt. 


l'm; 


yOTKS 


[l*.\<ii:s  •.tH-'.i'.t 


98  :  ti.    proper      rfpuliur. 

98  : '.».    terms.     <  't  dinnity  and  lioiiour. 

98  :  1.;.    his  own  part,     ("oinpare  Jlxmlit,  Act  V,  Sc.  2:  — 

"  Hiiratio,  I  am  iit>a( 
Th«)U  livrst :  ri'ixirt  iiic  and  my  cause  arij^ht 
To  the  unsatislicd," 


XXVIII.     OF    EXPENSE 
(l.V.tT.     Kiilaryed,  Itil'i  and  1(525) 

98:1-").   spending,     ruilirsiaiid  '  is.' 

98:  IS.  voluntary  undoing.  Ac't'i-tid  poverty.  Comparo 
Matt.  xi.v.  21. 

98:22.  abuse  of  servants.  Tho  Lord  Clmncfllor  Bacon's 
servants  were  not  ino-lcls  in  this  regard,  nor  were  they  as  strictly 
controlled  as  their  master's  be.st  interests  required.  His  mother 
cliided  him  in  tliis  respect. 

99:4.   doubting.     Dreadiiiij;  feariuEr- 

99:  11.   certainties.     Definitely  lixed  receipts  and  expenses. 

99:1;").  hall.  I'eihaps  the  house  as  distinguished  from  the 
stable  ;  perhaps  tiie  '  servants'  hall.'' 

99 :  18.    may  as  well.     Not  •  indifferently,'  but  '  as  surely.' 

99  :  22.  his  customs.  Those  that  had  previously  occasioned 
the  "Straits." 


XXIX.      OF   THE    TRUE    GREATNESS    OF    KLVGDOMS 

AND   ESTATES 

(1(>12.     Re-east  and  ureal ly  eidarged,  1(!2')) 

This  essay  is  of  especial  importance  as  reflecting   Bacon's 
ideas  of  direction  and   expediency  in   politics.     Machiavelli's- 
intluenc'i  is  often  apparent.     Bacon  largely  identifies  "true 


I'vGKH  iiM>-io;JJ 


MtTKS 


247 


101 
102 
102 


^ivatiu-s*s'"  with  pt'i-sisteiit.  iiu'vitablc,  an<l  widcnin-  '  imperial- 
i-iii.'  keyed  to  the  siiirit  of  rcsi'oiisibiliiy. 

100  :  1.   Themistocles.     See  note  on  imin.'  'M.  line  21. 

100:1.    censure.     .ludirint-nt  ;  opinion. 

100:7.  holpen.  See  note  on  page  81,  liiu' «•.  metaphor.  A 
,  Mirying  over  ;  a  re-applying. 

100:10.    gift.     Nolt>  the  humour. 

100  :  -i.j.  negotiis  pares.  '  Able  to  manage  alfairs.'  manage. 
A  riiler's  word, --loiitrol. 

101 :  (3.  argument.    Subject. 

101 :  l;'..   doth  fall  under.     U  subject  to. 

101  :  10.  cards.     Charts. 
•_*2.   mustard-seed.    See  Matt.  xiii.  31. 

;2.    stout.     Hold. 

...-.4.  Virgil.  I'.  Veriiilius  Maro,  «.<■.  70-l'.>.  was  a  gr^at 
Latin  poet,  author  of  the  hyin,,iH's.  the  li>i<;.li,-s.  the  (fenrairs, 
and  the  yEuehl  He  was  aided  and  highly  reganhnl  by  Miecenas 
(see  note  on  page  02.  line  4)  and  the  Kniperor  Augustu.s.  The 
passage  citod  is  from  the  Seventh  Kclogue. 

102:().    Arbela.     The  battle  was  fought  h.c  !?:'.(). 

102  :  8.   Alexander's.     See  note  on  page  03,  line  25. 
102:11.    Tigranes.     King  of  Armenia,  reigning  n.c.  '.tO-^t;. 

He  made  ar.  alliance  with  Mithridates.  king  of  Por.tus.  He  was 
defeated  by  the  Romans  under  LucuUus  at  Tigranocer' a,  n.c.  08, 
and  again  by  Pompey  in  n.c.  00. 

102:24.   trivially.     Tritely. 

102:25.  Solon  A  groat  lawgiver  of  Athens.  Lived  u.r. 
038-551>.     He  was  made  archon  and  prime  legislator. 

102:20.  CrCBSUS.  King  of  Lydia,  su.eeeding  ids  f:il1ur 
Alyattes  in  n.e.  500.  He  conciuered  many  peoples  and  becanie 
enormously  rich.  He  was  finally  overthrown  by  t'yrus  of 
Persia  n.c.  540. 

103 :  3.   they.    The  antecedent  is  '  subjects, ' 


L'4» 


AO'/T'.'.V 


l^l'Auts  lu;i-luG 


103  :  8.   mew.     Afoult. 
103  . ;».   Judah  and  Issachar.     See  Gen.  xlix. 
103:  lO.   excises.     A  nlVreiice  tit  tin-  war  taxes  levied  in  the 
Netlifrlaiiils  to  stipiM.rl  hostilities  witli  !Si)ain. 

103  :  17.   subsidies.     Amounts  appropriated  by  Parliament. 
103:2",.    nobility  and  gentlemen.     See  Kssay  XIX,  page  07, 

lilies  12-'J!>. 

103:2!).  coppice.  Or,  cop.se.  A  wood  foritied  of  trees  of 
slight  growth  cut  from  time  to  time  for  fuel,  staddles.  Young 
trees  left  standing  alter  tlie  uuderwoitd  has  been  cleared  away. 

104:.;.    hundred  poll,     llundrediii  head. 

104  :  10.     in  regard.     Hecau.se. 

104:22.  "Terra,"  etc.  'A  land  mighty  in  battle  and  in 
fruit  fulness  of  .soil.' 


105 

105 

105 

105 

105; 

105: 


17 
lit 
23 

2(! 


I. 


Nebuchadnezzar's  tree.     See  Dan.  iv.  10. 
nice.     Fastidious  ;  exclusive. 
becomen.     So  '  holpen '  and  '  gotten  '  in  Bacon. 
sorted.     Resulted  ;  turned  out. 
"jus  civitatis."     '  The  right  of  citizenship.' 
"  jus  commercii,"  etc.     '  The  rights  of  commerce,  of 
marriage,  of  inheritance.' 
105  :  28.    "jus  suffragii."     '  The  right  of  the  franchise.' 
105:2!».    "jus    honorum."      'The    right    of   public    office.' 
Singular.     Single. 

106:2.    colonies.     Homan   military  posts,   which  sometimes 

became  the  nuclei  for  little  states.     They  were  seldom  succes.s- 

ful,  in  the  modern  idea  of  colonizing,  lacking  adaptability. 

106:  i.    both  constitutions.     Naturalization  and  colonization. 

106:11.   great  body  of  a  tree.     Compare  the  reference  to 

Nebuchailnezzar's  tree,  page  10.3,  line  7. 

106:10.  Pragmatical  Sanction.  Philip  IV.  of  Spain  pub- 
lished a  decree,  ov  Pr(«n,iiitlr<i,  l(;22,  giving  encouragement  to 
persons  who  should  marry,  and  esjjecial  privileges  to  the  fathers 


l-v(;i:s  KXUIKO] 


MjIKS 


240 


nt  six  cliiUln-ii.  Otln-r  countries,  in  lucd  of  i  -imlation.  liav 
iM,l  similar  laws.  One  i>  slill  (Au-u>t.  U)<».-.)  i-iu-rativf  in  tho 
I'loviiuf  of  '^iu'Ihh',  t'anada. 

106- '27.  advantage.  Wlun  iMmsidored  from  tlir  economic 
;,ua  military  points  of  view.  'Ihi'  ilisadvanlages  are  not  here 
jirrtiiient  to  Bacon's  ari;ument. 

106  :  -'•'.   rid.     Settle  tlie  .iiiestion  of. 

107  :  4.   vulgar  natives.     <  >r.  as  we  say,  •  common  people.' 
107  :  l;I.   habilitations.     Trainiiiiis. 

107:14.  Romulus.  Tlie  traditional  founder  of  Kome.  He 
was  a  son  of  Mars  and  twin  brotlier  of  Kemus. 

107:1').  present.  An  advised  policy;  compare  our  legal 
Mlirase,  'Ty  tiiesc  presents."' 

107:  1<>.   intend.     Profess. 

107:'iO.    scope.     ( )biec't  ;  purpose. 

107: -21.    flash.    Moment;  a  little  while. 

107: 24.   declination.     Decline. 

107  :  27.    stood  upon.     Discussed  further  ;  elaborated. 
107::iO.    their.     The    use   of   the   plural   pronoun   after  the 

siiiL^nilar  noun,   its   antecedent,  is  common  in  Bacon   and   in 
Elizabethan  Knglish. 
108 : 1 .   oracle  of  time.     Teachins:  of  history. 

108  :  10.   pretended.     Kmployed  as  iustifyini:  causes  of  war. 
108  :  14.   quarrels.    Occasions  ;  causes.    Compare  Rssay  VIII, 

past'  2:^,  line  20. 

108  :  2.').   prest.     Trompt ;  ready. 

108  :  2<).    confederates.     Allies. 

109 :  :^..  tacit  conformity  of  estate.  A  spirit  of  political  sym- 
pathy  ;  or  a  rappriK-htiot'i.f  !> twe«  u  states,  as  hetvvc^n  uidnnd- 
uals.'  There  is  a  .suggestion  al.so  of  one  country's  willingness 
;o  extend  the  influence  of  its  own  ideals  and  tnethods  of 
-government  whenever  opportunity  should  -  em  r;pe. 
"^  109 :  I !.    natural  body  or  politic.     Individual  or  .state 


250 


NOTES 


[Packs  109-110 


109  :  19.   effeminate.     Grow  soft  or  womanlike. 

109 :  22.   maketh  to  be  still.     Is  profitable  to  be  always. 

109 :  23.   chargeable.     Kxpensive. 

109  :  2").  the  law.  The  dfciding  power  ;  right  to  arbitrate  ; 
paraniouiitcy. 

109 :  oO.  abridgment  of  a  monarchy.  A  kingdom  in  little. 
Cicero.  See  note  on  page  07.  line  11.  Atticus.  1'.  I'omponius 
Alliens  was  a  virtuous  Roman  knight,  to  whom  Cicero  addressed 
many  letters.     Pompey.     See  note  on  page  82,  line  23. 

110 :  1.  Caesar.  See  note  on  page  01,  line  10.  '•  Consilium," 
etc.  '  T>onipey 's  plan  is  (juitc  Tliemisioclean,  for  he  thinks  that 
whoever  commands  the  .sea  commands  the  entire  situation.' 

110  :  ().  Actium.  Here  Antony  was  defeated  by  Octavianus 
(Augustus),  ij.c.  31. 

110  :  8.  Lepanto.  Turkey's  navy  was  shattered  in  this  battle, 
1571,  by  the  combined  papal,  Spanish,  and  Venetian  strengths. 

110  :  10.  final  to  the  war.  The  deciding  contests.  Compare 
Japan's  recent  victory  over  Russia. 

110 : 1 1.   set  up  their  rest.    Staking  all  on  one  '  hand.' 

110  :  14.  as  he  will.  In  his  WiUinm  Pitt,  Earl  of  Chatham. 
Mr.  Frederic  Harrison  tells  us  that  in  17(51  Great  Britain  had 
"  absolute  dominion  of  the  seas  to  an  extent  hardly  ever  equalled 
before  or  since.  .  .  .  England  was  perfectly  secure  at  home, 
whilst  she  held  the  commerce  of  the  seas  and  all  transoceanic 
settlements  within  her  grasp.  Xo  other  nation  posses.sed  even 
the  nucleus  of  marine  ix.wer.  and  all  were  debarred  from  reach- 
ing such  colonies  as  they  retained.''  AjuI  again  :  •'  Had  George 
II.  lived  a  few  years  longer,  had  Pitt  maintained  his  health,  his 
ntluence  with  the  King.  Parliament,  and  the  nation,  it  was  quite 
probable  that  every  )>ossessi(m  of  France,  Spain,  or  Holland, 
outside  of  Eurrpe,  would  have  passed  t(j  tlie  British  Crown,  and 
tliat  these  countries  would  have  been  forced  to  make  peace  on 
terms  of  extreme  humiliation." 


SB 


I'xdKS  110-112] 


XOTES 


251 


no :  10.   merely.     Entirely. 

Ill :  ').   personal,     (liven  to  single   individuals  for  acts  of 
unusual  heroism,     style.     Appellation  ;  title. 

Ill :  7.   triumphs.     Processions  through  Rome  to  the  Temple 
,,t'  .hipiter,  in  honour  of  successful  generals. 

111:12.   gaudery.     Boastful  display. 

Ill :  10.   impropriate.    Appropriate. 

111:22.   ensigns.     Decorations. 

Ill :  2.').    Scripture.     See  Matt.  vi.  27. 

Ill :  2(5.    model.     A  miniature  of  "the  great  frame  of  king- 
doms and  commonwealths." 


Ml 


XXX.     OF   REGIMENT  OF   HEALTH 
(ir)97.     A  paragraph  added,  1612.    Enlarged,  11)25) 

"Uegiment"  is  here  used  in  the  sense  of  '  regimen,' —  con- 
trol, systematic  management.  Compare  Fletcher's  Two  Noble 
Knmnen,  Act  IV,  Sc.  :5 :  "This  may  bring  her  to  eat,  to 
sl( "^p,  and  reduce  what'.s  now  out  of  square  with  her  into  their 
former  law  and  regiment." 

112  :  13.   still.     Always. 

112:  14.  age  will  not  be  defied.  Compare  O.  W.  Holmes's 
Th,'  Aatoi-mt  of  the  Breakfast  Table  :  "  What  is  the  use  of 
fi-hting  a-ainst  the  seasons,  or  the  tides,  or  the  movements  of 
the  planetary  bodies,  or  this  ebb  in  the  wave  of  life  that  flows 
through  us  ?  We  are  old  fellows  from  the  moment  the  fire  be- 
gins to  go  out.  Let  us  always  behave  like  gentlemen  when  we 
are  introduced  to  new  acquaintances.  .  .  .  We  have  settled  when 
old  age  becins.  Like  all  Nature's  processes,  it  is  gentle  and 
uradnal  in  its  approaches,  strewed  with  illusions,  and  all  its 
Httle  griefs  are  soothed  by  natural  sedatives.  But  the  iron 
liand  is  not  less  irresistible  because  it  wears  the  velvet  glove." 


•^fr 


'>,"/> 

^Om 


NOTES 


[Paces  112-114 


112:18.  than  one.  The  moaning  is,  that  if  a  change  is 
decided  upon  it  should  be  a  change  affecting  several  interests  at 
once  rather  than  one  only. 

112  :  24.    particularly.     In  your  own  case. 

113  :  8.  envy,  etc.  This  dispassionate  advice  is  another  testi- 
mony to  Bac.in's  eiiuable  temperament. 

113:  IS.  accident.  Symptom.  Hacon's  own  bodily  consti- 
tution was  not  stronn,  and  he  watched  himself  perhaps  ovi-r- 
closely  in  tlie  particuhii-s  named. 

113:  1!>.    respect.     Consider. 

113 :  20.   action.     Kxenise.     put.     Kequire  ;  C(.nstrain. 

113:22.   tendering.     Caicful  attention  ;  nursing. 

113  :  2;;.  Celsus.  .Aldus  Cornelius  Cel.sus.  a  phvsician  in  the 
tune  of  Tiberius:,  who  wrote  exhaustively  of  oratory,  farming, 
jurisprudence,  mech-cine,  military  art.  and  philosophy.  The 
eight  books  on  medicine  are  alone  extant. 

114 :  1.    masteries.     Control  of  the  piiysical  functions. 

114  :  2.    pleasing.      Willing  to  please  ;  indulgent. 

114  :  6.  according  to  art,  etc.  Compare  Essay  XXVII,  page 
90.  line  27,  page  S>7,  line  2.  Compare  also  Chaucer's  doctor  iu 
the  ProbnntP  to  fi,^.  Citittrltury  Tales: 

••TIk-  eaiise  y-knowe,  and  of  his  harm  the  rote, 
Anon  he  yaf  the  .seke  man  liis  bote." 


XXXI.   OF  srspicioN 

(l(i2.'5) 
114  :  13.   guarded.     Controlled. 
114:1.5.    check.      Interfere. 
114  :  1().    currently,     i.ike  a  current ;  smoothly. 
114 :  19.   heart.     Courage. 
114:20.    stoutest.     Bravest. 
^  14  ;  22.    composition.     Temperament. 


I'VCES   115-11()] 


yoTES 


253 


115  :  4.  What  would  men  have  ?  otc  A  sipnifioant  recogni- 
linii  by  the  pnulenliiil  Bacon,  at  the  oml  of  his  career,  of  the 
1,  ss  pleasinj--  rralities  of  liunian  cliaracter.  The  touch  of  bitter- 
ness is  not,  h(nvcver,  representative. 

115:14.   buzzes.     Passing  nmrniurs. 

115  :  v.).   he.     The  antecedent  is  to  be  understood. 

116  :  22.    would.     Shoulci. 

115  :  25.  '•  Sospetto  licentia  fede."  '  Suspicion  gives  license 
io  faith,'  that  is,  releases  men  from  the  obligation  to  be  sincere 
and  honourable. 


, 


XXXIT.     OF   DISC(^URSE 

(in^n.    Enlarge  ■.  1(512;  again,  ItVJ.')) 

116:4.  what  might  be  -.•'  Compare  Addison's  paper  (No. 
122)  in  The  JSpectator :  "  -  -.  "nd  Sir  Roger  heard  them  both, 
upon  a  round  trot ;  and  t.  .ti  having  paused  some  time,  tol.l 
them,  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  would  not  give  his  judgment 
rashly,  that  much  mvjht  he  said  on  both  sides.'''' 

116 : 0.   commonplaces  and  themes.     Stock  subjects  of  dis- 
course. 

116:10.   moderate.     Control. 

116: 11.   leads  the  dance.     Gracefully  guides  the  conversation. 

116:13.   intermingle,  etc.     Relieve   the  di.scussion  of  local 
topics  with  more  important  intellectual  matters. 

116 :1H.    jade.     Overwork. 

116:18.    privileged.     Kxempted  by  common  consent. 

116 :  21.  any  case  that  deserveth  pity.  Bacon's  contempo- 
raiies  were  less  sensitive  in  this  respect  than  men  of  to-day. 
I'he  race  has  grown  — though  sh^wly  — in  symi)athy  and  its 
expressions.  Wo  do  not  find  misfortune  funny  as  often  as  did 
tile  Klizab3thans. 

116:24.   would.    Ought  to. 


il' 


ii 


254 


NOTES 


[IVVUKS  ll<i-I]s 


116:2").  "Parce,"  etc.  'Spare  the  whip,  boy,  an.l  pull 
harder  at  the  reins.'     From  Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  II,  127. 

116:27.   saltness.     \Vit. 

117  :  4.    content.     Give  pleasure. 

117:r).  skill.  The  peculiar  knowledge  or  specialty.  Rawlev 
says  of  Bacon  that  '•  he  would  haw  a  man  on  and  allow  him  to 
speak  upon  sucli  a  subject,  as  wherein  he  was  peculiarly  skilful 
and  would  delight  to  speak."' 

117:9.    poser.     Formal  examiner  ;  question-putter. 

117  :  14.  galliards.  A  French  dance  of  vigorous  measure,  for 
two  persons.  Compare  Shakespeare's  TiMfth  Xight,  Act  I, 
Sc.  3 :  — 

"  Sir  Tobif.    What  is  thy  excellence  in  a  galliard,  knight  ? 
.Sir  Andreir.     Faith,  I  can  cut  a  caper." 

117:  15.  dissemble,  etc.  '  If  you  sometimes  pretend  not  to 
know  what  you  really  do  knf)w,  this  practice  will  turn  out  to 
your  advantage,  for  your  ignorance  in  other  instances  will 
appear  to  be  similar  modesty.'  A  rather  frank  expression  of 
worldly  wisdom. 

117  :  18.  of.     C(mcerning. 

117  :  25.  touch.     Personal  import. 

118 :  2.  dry  blow.    A  jest  based  on  a  personality. 

118  :  0.  agreeably.     Suitably  ;  acceptably. 

118:8.  A  good  continued  speech,  etc.  The  meaning  is, 
'  Ability  to  speak  at  length,  if  unsupported  by  good  conver- 
sational ability,  has  the  advantage  of  rapidity,  like  the  grey- 
hound, but  the  disadvantage  of  slowness  "  in  the  turn  "  ;  while 
(iuickues<«  of  rejoinder  in  conversation,  unaccompanied  by 
power  to  elaborate  an  idea,  though  showing  the  nimbleness  of 
the  running  hare,  exhibits  also  the  hare's  weakness.' 

118 :  14.   circumstances.     Considerations. 


l'v(iES  118-122] 


^^o'^Es 


255 


XXXIII.     OF   PLANTATIONS 

(1(125) 

118:17.   Plantations.    Colonies. 

119  •  4  profit.  Bacon's  imperialism  is  of  a  patriotic,  not  a 
.ninnierciiU,  type.  He  anticipates  here  precisely  the  lowness 
and  weakness  of  that  'Tory'  point  of  view  which  lost  tor 
(Joorgian  England  her  American  colonies. 

119  :i:'..  certify.  Write  accounts.  Compare  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  Virginia  colony. 

119  :  20.  of  itself.    That  is,  indigenously. 
23.  esculent.    Eatable. 

;  20.   maize.    The  English  term  for  corn. 

:9.   certain.    Definite;  fixed. 

:  14.  manure.    Cultivate. 

:  15.  his  own  private.     Himself. 

120  :  21.  Virginia 
120 


119: 

119; 

120 

120 

120 


120 
120 
121 
121 
121 


Settled  at  Jamestown,  1608. 
22.  one.    That  is,  of  the  commodities  mentioned  above. 
24.   brave.     Fine  ;  excellent. 

20.   would.    Should.     Growing  silk.     Vegetable  silk. 
1.    moil.    Toil  ;  work.     Compare  '  turmoil.' 
12.    undertakers.     Contractors. 

1(5.   freedoms  from  custom.    Exemptions  from  the  pay- 
iniut  of  duties  on  exports  ur  imports. 
121:19.  make  their  best  of  them.    Sell  them  to  most  advan- 

*''l21:22.   how  they  waste.    How  they  dwindle  in  population. 

121 :  25.    surcharge.    Overplus  of  population. 

121:28.   marish.    Marshy. 

121 :  30.  still.     Always. 

122:0.   gingles.     Jingles;  rattles. 

122  •  10.  it  is  not  amiss,     l^hat  is,  to  offer  and  provide  assist- 
ance  against  their  enemies  when  friendly  savages  are  attacked. 


Ml 


juJ 


2oG 


XOTKS 


[I'auks  1U2-U'4 


122:17.   destitute.    Abandon. 

122  :U>.  commiserable.     rnf-Ttmijito  ;  miserable. 


XXXIV.     OF   lUCHES 

(1012.     Much  enlarged,  1625) 

122 :  22.   "  impedimenta. "     •  Baggage. ' 
123  ;  1.    conceit.     Fancy  ;  illusion. 
123:2.    Solomon.     See  Eccl.  v,  11. 

123  :  o.  to  feel  great  riches.    Aitw  sufficient  wealth  has  been 
secured  to  satisfy  every  perscnial  desire,  additional  income  will 
not  be  'felt'  as  affecting  one's  individual  good. 
123:8.   feigned.     Fanciful. 
123  :  10.   because.    In  order  that. 
123  :  i:{.   Solomon.    See  Frov.  xviii.  11, 
123  :  18.  proud  riches.     Wealth  for  wealth's  sake. 
123  :  21.   Cicero.     See  note  on  page  57.  line  11. 
123:22.  Rabirius   Posthumas.     Defended   by  Cicero  when 
accused  by  the  Tribune  Labienns  of  complicity  in  the  kilUiur 
of  Saturninus.     "in  studio,"  etc.     'In  the  endeavour  to  in! 
crease  his  estate  it  was  manifest  that  he  sought  not  the  spoil 
of  avarice,  but  a  means  of  beneficence.' 
123  :  25.   Solomon.     See  Prov.  xxviii.  20. 
123  :  20.    -  Qui  festinat,"  etc.     '  He  that  maketh  haste  to  be 
rich  shall  not  be  unpunished.' 
123  ;  27.   Plutus.    The  god  of  riches,  son  of  Jason  and  Ceres. 
123  :  28.   Jupiter.    See  note  on  page  51,  line  7. 
123  :  29.    Pluto.     Sec  note  on  page  75,  line  23. 
124:7.   upon  speed.    Compare    Webster's   The  Duchess  of 
Malfi,  Act  III,  Sc.  2 :  —  "^ 

"...  Pluto,  the  nod  of  riches, 
When  lie's  sent  by  .fupiter  to  auy  man, 


I'AGES  124-12.-)] 


NOTES 


257 


Hf  'fi^en  liiiipiii.n,  to  signify  that  wt'iiltii 

Thivt  i'om«'s  on  ( lod's  name  comi'S  slowly  :  Imt  when  he's  sent^^ 

On  the  devil's  errand,  he  rides  post  and  comes  in  by  scuttles." 

124 :  17.  greatest  audits  of  any  man.  In  our  day  false  syn- 
tax.    Why  ?    Cx'mi  the  correct  form. 

124  :  24.  stock,  etc.  As  a  man's  resources  increase,  so  do  his 
opportunities  of  gain.  Compare  Geor-e  Eliot's  MidOleuvtrch. 
liook  I,  Chapter  XII :  "Ay,  ay  ;  money's  a  good  egg;  and^if 
you've  got  money  to  leave  behind  yovi,  lay  it  in  a  warm  nest." 

124:2(5.   c\rercome.    Secure  ;  connnand. 

124  :  21).   mainly.    Greatly. 

125  :  •").   broke.     Deal ;  negotiate. 
125  :  7.  chapmen.     Buyers, 

125 :  8.  naught.    Naughty  ;  bad. 

125  :  11.  upon  the  seller  and  upon  the  buyer.  The  original 
seller  and  the  final  buyer,  the  '  middleman '  profiting  by  both. 

125:13.   Usury.    See  Kssay  XLI. 

125  :!•'».  "in  sudore,"  etc.  'In  tlie  sweat  of  another's 
brow.' 

125  :  17.   scriveners  and  brokers.    Financial  agents. 

125  :  18.   value.     Uecoiamend  as  good  risks. 

125  :  !".>.   invention.     Discovery. 

125  :  22.  Canaries.    The  sugar  trade  in  the  Canaries  took  its 

rise  in  li")07. 

125  :  23.  the  true  logician.  In  Book  II  of  Tho  Afhunicrmcnt 
of  Learning,  Bacon  as.serts  that  -The  arts  intellectual  are  four 
iu  number;  dividi^d  according  to  the  ends  whereunto  they  are 
referred :  for  man's  labour  is  to  invent  that  which  Is  sought  or 
propounded:  or  to  iudge  that  which  is  invented:  or  to  retain 
that  which  is  jtxdged  :  or  to  deliver  over  that  which  is  retained." 

125  :  28.   guard,  etc.     Protect  one's  self  in  speculative  enter- 
prises by  investing  enough  in  a  conservative,  legitimate  way  to 
offset  any  possible  loss. 
s 


^i| 


li 


I 


258 


NOTES 


[Pages  125-127 


126  :.m   coemption.     Buying  up. 

126:8.   Tacitus.     See  note  on  page  o,  line  27.    Seneca.    See 
note  on  page  .5,  line  ]«.  ^ 

126:9.    "Testamenta,"  etc.     'lie  landed   wills  and  warl- 
ships  as  though  taken  with  nets.'     See  the  .!«/,(//..  xil  4» 
126:14.    none  worse.    Than  these  affected  .scomers  of  wealth 
126  :  lo.   riches  have  wings.     Compare  Prov.  xxiii.  5.     Note 
the  humorous  turn  that  follows. 

J^^'':\  ,*^*  ^*"*''  '^'-     ^^'^"°''' '"  ^'"  ^"d  judgment  on 
account  of  his  wealth. 

126 :  23.    glorious.     Ostentatious ;  vainglorious. 
126  :  20.   advancements.     Gifts. 

Ja«  ''  !I'   f'n"?  *^®"  ^^  "**'"'^-     ^^^^"^^  ^''^"^  equitably. 

126 :  28.  till  death.  Note  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  as  an  inter- 
esting contemporary  example  of  the  rich  man  who  makes  bene- 
faction a  business  of  life  rather  than  of  death.  He  has  given 
away  (up  to  August,  1905)  about  $  115,000  000 


XXXV.   OF  PROPHECIES 

(1625) 
127 :  2.  natural  predictions.    Those  made  in  accordance  with 
a  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  nature.    Compare  the  moon's  phases, 
eclipses,  etc.  ^  iitwcn, 

PvM  ^  ''  ^'  ?y*J°°^«^*-  ^^Po"«'  giver  of  oracles,  was  called  the 
1  ythian.  Pythomssa,  accordingly,  refers  to  a  prophetess.  See 
the  narrative  in  1  Sam.  xxviii.  7-25. 

127  :  (J.  Homer.  Greatest  of  Greek  poets.,  supposed  to  have 
been  born  in  Smyrna  and  to  have  died  on  the  island  of  los. 
Itrodotus  gives  n.c.  850  as  representing  the  time  in  which  he 
l-ved,  but  later  and  earlier  dates  are  given.  The  Iliad  and 
Odiissey,  attributed  to  him,  may  have  become  welded  into  a 
composite  after  passing  through  many  transitional  stages,  in 


I'AGES  127-128] 


NOTES 


259 


which  case  the  authorship  would  be  multiform.  Whether 
Homer  actually  existed  or  not,  it  seems  probable  that  some  one 
■  reat  poet  is  responsible  for  the  core  (.f  the  Iliad.  The  lines 
"luoted  are  from  Vergil's  ^Uneid,  III,  97,  transcribed  from  the 
Hind,  XX,  807,  :]08. 

127:7.  "  At  domus,"  etc.  'But  now  the  house  of  /.neas 
sliiiU  reign  over  every  shore,  and  his  children's  children,  and 
wliosoever  shall  succeed  them.* 

127  :  10.  Seneca.  See  note  on  page  5,  line  16.  The  passage 
is  (juoted  from  the  Medea,  II,  374-378. 

127: 11.  "Venient  annis."  etc.  'In  far-distant  years  shall 
oome  the  ages  when  ocean  shall  loose  the  bands  of  the  world, 
and  the  vast  globe  shall  be  discovered,  and  Tiphys  shall  show 
new  worlds  ;  nor  shall  Thule  be  the  end  of  the  earth.'  Tiphys 
was  a  mythological  pilot. 

127 :  18.   Polycrates.     Tyrant  of  Samos,  n.o.    536-522.    He 
was  a  patron  of  the  arts,  and  is  said  by  Herodotus  to  have  had 
the  most  persistent  good  fortune,  exposing  him  to  the  envy  of 
the  gods.     Jupiter.     See  note  on  page  51,  Ihie  7. 
Apollo.     See  note  on  page  55,  line  26. 
Aristander.    A  famous  soothsayer  under  Alexander 


127 :  10. 
127  :  24. 

the  (ireat. 

127  :  27, 
IV,  Sc.  3. 

128:1. 

I'hilippi.' 


phantasm.     See  Shakespeare's  Julius  Cxsar,  Act 
Brutus.     See  note  on  page  91,  line  20. 
"Philippis,"    etc.     'Thou  shalt  see  me  again  at 
Brutus  and  Cas  ins  were  defeated  by  Antony  and 
Octavius  at  Philippi,  and  Brutus  destroyed  himself. 

128  : 2.   Tiberius.     See  note  on  page  5,  line  26.     Galba.    See 
„ote   on  page  6,  line  30.     "  Tu  quoque,"  etc.     'Thou  also, 
Galba,  shalt  taste  of  empire.'    Tacitus'  Annals,  VI,  20. 
128:  3.    Vespasian's.     See  note  on  page  5.  line  28. 
128 : 7.   Tacitus.     See   note  on  page  5,  line  27.     Domitian 
Si  e  note  on  page  63,  line  13. 


Ml 

f  il 


Mi 


-^^  ^'OTKS  [Paoes  128-130 

A  ?fv'  ^1:'   ^*"'^  ^^'     '"^'^^  ^^^I'ak^-^I'eare's  Jl.nnj  VI.,  I'urt  III. 

128:21.    slain.    Henry  II.   ..f   France  lost  his  life  through 
an  accKlent  at  a  tournament  in  ir>ol). 

128:  22.    beaver.     Ti.e  l..w,.r  portion  of  the  armoured  head- 

"  TliHr  arn,e.l  staves  ii,  ..hjn-e,  tiieir  beavers  down, 
lli.-w  eyes  ..f  (i,v  sparklin-  throu-h  si-hts  of  .steel." 

128:2;{.   trivial.     Common. 

129:4.    style.     Title. 

129 :H.  the  Baugh  and  the  May.  Mr.  Wright  says  :  "Mr 
Daniel  has  sugge.sted  to  n.e  that  the  '  Baugh  '  is  probably  the 
Bass  ^rook  ;  and  ti.e  •  May  '  the  Isle  of  May,  in  the  Fnth  of 

129:16.  Regiomontanus.      Johannes    Miiller.      The    name 
means  'Hoyal  mount.'  and  corre.pond.s,  therefore,  to  Konigs- 

ml  in'u!^  ""^'  ^''"'''  """"''  ""'"^  ^'^'"-    ''^''  P^^^^'^^'^"  '^^ 
l>e  mti-vJll.nts'''*''"'""'''  '^"    '  ^'^^  -^^hty-eighth  year  .shall 

ti.f f!,-,f' ■   ^^^*'"'''     ^"^^''"  """^  ^"  Athenian  popular  leader  of 

11    t''^"''  "■'■     "'  ^''''^'''  ''''  '^I'''^"^"^  successfully  at 
I    Ics,  42o,  but  wa.s  defeated  and  slain  by  Brasidas  at  A.ttphip- 

elsewh"l"  '  '''  Aristophanes   in    Tke  Kniyhts  and 

130:3.    sort.     Way. 

180:5.    grace.     Favourable  consideratioji 
130:7.    when  they  hit.     Compare    The  Advancement    of 

talse  apiuaranres  that   are  impo..ed  upon  us  bv  the  gei-ral 
nature  of  the   nu.ul.  beholding  thettt  itt  an  example  of  two ! 


I'AWE  I.'JOJ 


SOT  US 


L'Ol 


as  first  in  that  instance  wliioli  is  tlu>  root  of  all  su}>tistiti<>ii. 
namely,  tliat  tu  the  natnir  ()f  tlie  nun.l  .-f  all  nun  it  is  conso- 
nant for  the  atVinnative  or  active  to  etf.ct,  move  ili;.n  the  nega- 
tive or  privative.  So  that  a  few  times  hittin.n,  ur  presence, 
countervails  t)fl-tiines  failin-:,  or  absence  :  as  was  well  answered 
by  Diagoras  to  hirv  that  show.d  liini.  in  Neptune's  tenipK',  the 
..'i-eat  number  ot  i^ictures  of  such  as  hail  escaped  shipwrerk. 
an.l  had  paid  th.-ir  vows  to  Neptune,  sayini,',  '  Advise  now,  yoii 
tliat  think  it  folly  to  invocate  Neptune  in  ten.pest.'  •  Yta.  but." 
saith  Diagoras,  •  where  are  they  iniintttl  tliat  are  drowned  ■"  " 

130:  IH.   Platos.     See  note  on  page  05.  line -JO.     Atlanticus. 
77/e  Critias  of  I'lato. 


XXXVI.     OF    AMIUIION 
(l»il2.     Kular;red.  l*i'J") 
Of  Bacon's  own  ambition  all  his  life  is  a  testimony.     The 
student  will  note  his  frankly  and  often  expressed  desire  for 
advancement,  and  will  feel  also  the  nobility  of  his  motive  as 
expressed  in  the  unpublished  Latin  preiace  to  his  treatise  on 
The  hiterpreWt.nt  i,f  X.iture:  "For  n-.yself.  my  heart  is  not 
set  upon  any  of  those  things  which  depend  upon  ixternal  acci- 
dents.    I  am  not  hunting  for  fame :  1  have  no  desire  to  found 
a  sect,  after  the  fashion  of  heresiarchs ;  and  to  look  for  any 
l)rivate  gain  from  such  an  undertaking  as  this,  I   count  both 
ridiculous  and  base.     Enough  for  me  the  consciousness  of  well- 
deserving,  and  those  real  and  effectual  results  with  which  For- 
tune itself  cannc^t  interfere."     Further,  from  Essay  XI  "Of 
Great  Place,"  page   34,  lines  12  and   18:  -But   power  to  do 
good  is  the  true  and  lawful  end  of  aspiring."    Of  all  of  Bacon's 
methods  of  rising  it  is  not  perhaps  possible   or  necessary  to 
approve,  but  it  is  of  prime  importance  that  w-  recognize  the 
3ore  of  his  purpose  as  sound. 


202 


yOTES 


LR. 


'';o-r;j 


130:24.   choler.     humour     S(v  note  on  ].fitve  2-J.  liiu' i'.{ 

131:1.  adust.  I<irtauu-d,-auchnicaluonlofuncienr  edi- 
cine. 

131:;{.    still.     Always;  i.iogrcssivcly. 

131 :  7.  an  evil  eye.  (\)nii,a.v  Matt,  xx  15.  See  aJHu  ,„.t. 
on  Ks,s,.y  I.\.  i)ai:<-'4.  li„i.  17. 

131 :  II.    take  order  to.     Dcvi.s.'  j.lan.s  to. 

131  :  21.    dispenseth  with.     Pardons  ;  condones 

131:-'.  a  soldier  without  ambition.  Compare  Shakespear.V 
Antony  and  r/,op,(fr,i.  Act  III.  Sc.  1  :_ 

"  and  ainl>iti()ii 
The  soUiH'v-s  virtue,  rat'.,-  n.akes  .•l.uiceof  loss, 
iliaii  ^'ani  which  darkens  him." 

spurs.    Compare  Shakespeare's  Marh,th,  Act  I,  Sc.  7 :  — 

"I  liave  no  spur 
To  i>rick  the  sides  of  my  intern  :  but  only 
Vault ini;  ambition,  wiiich  o'er-lcaps  itself, 
And  falls  on  ilie  other." 

Compare  also  Milton's  L>jri,i„H,  line  70:! :  _ 

"  Fame  is  the  .spur  that  the  clear  spirit  doth  raise." 

131:26     seeled.     Having  its  eyelids  draw,i  tu„       er  by  means 
of  a  hne  thread. 

131  :  i>8.    Tiberius.     See  note  on  page  o.  line  26. 

131 ;  2-.).    Macro.     Succe.ssor  of  Sejanu.'.  as  comn.ander  of  the 
prietor.an  guards.    Sejanus.    Favourite  of  the  emperor  Fiberius 
who  was  .sente..ce.l  to  death  by  the  Senate  at  the  emperor'.,  in^ 
stance,  s.i>.  i^A,  for  conspiracy  against  the  imperial  power 

132: 1.   resteth.     Remains. 

132:8.  favourites.  Compare  Hacon's  regard  for  Buckin-. 
ham,  lus  famous  letter  of  advice  to  RMckingham  om  the  d  ties 
and  opportunitc  s  of  a  favourite,  and  the  closeness  of  their  zela- 


^ 


I'.v.  i:s  r;_'  i:r.] 


yo'i  Es 


m 


tlon.    It  was  indeetl  "inipossilih  '.h;»'   xuv''''' '     • 

132:10.    inure.     Habitc   f;  ai.-.-n-!   m. 
132  :  1>*.    obnoxiOi..^      L  (bit'. 

132  :•_'!.    prove   danj^erou.^.     V'  -il' _  f<  rciice  to  Es.s»'x. 
Sec  the  Ih.rodmnion,  i  ._^*'s  xiii   km.    I'oi  iiai^  also  liiu-s  iM-'Jii. 

133:-'.   depfndances      K.  tmu    :  foll-'w    „'. 
133:  7.    to  do  good.    *  "ti!-'        Essay  ^       !>a.uv  -54,  liiu's  IJ,  l". 
133:14.    sensible  of      * 'on.      ut''  ^^  t'si-onsive  to. 

133:l'>.    bravery.     IJoastfulness 

133  lt>.    bup  IiiMuisiiivi' ;     u  ir.     *     uiparo    Shake- 
'ipearfV    H'tmh       \      HI.          1:    - 

••Thoi'      1(1  -I  to  bo       'busy    >  sdiuc  <lanser." 


\XXVII.     <^     MASgr    <    A     1)   THirMl'IIS 

The  Hi  lue  was  v*  ry  imjmlar  <:  rmti:  the  rei.niis  of  Elizabeth 
and  Jam.  and  P.  on  shared  this  interest  so  heartily  that  ho 
himself  (U-vised  nv  nanaged  several  such  spectacles.  The  rec- 
ognised 1.'  rp<  M  le  masque  was  to  celeV)rate  some  important 
occa  .1.  »M'  ■'  'I  with  tlM"  lives  of  royalty  or  nobility,  the 
acto  f  'St  part,  being  themselves  royal  or  noble.  The 
,,as.,  t'V.  however,  a  glorified  allegory  than  a  signiti- 
I'.en  Jonson  and  .lobn  Kletcber  were  its  early 
n's  Comns  is  the  last  notable  example  in  English 


ant  aii 

la-'iters. 

li  "rature. 

'     17. 


^s.     Trirtes. 


:  18.   But  yet,  etc.     Bacon  tbe  philosopher  to  Bacon  the 


t. 


.33 :  20.   daubed  with  cost.     Made  overspectacular  and  un- 
asonably  expensive. 


264 


ivo '/•/;*' 


[I'AOrEs  ia3-i;J5 


133  :  2o.  aloft.  In  a  raised  gallery  at  the  end  of  the  hall  or 
clianibj  r.  broken  music.  Music  produced  by  instrunient.s 
rt'late'd  in  otht-r  ways  than  according  to  the  idea  of  a  'consort.' 
or  .set  of  four. 

133 :  24.   ditty.     Song.     Device.     Spectacle. 
133:  20.   not  dancing.     That  is,  not  dancing  'in  song' ;  not 
accompanying  (ni(-.\^  .s^//with  singing  or  music. 

134  :  1 .    would.     Should. 
134  : ;}.   dainty.     Pretty. 

134:5.  by  catches.  One  after  another,  at  stated  intervals, 
anthem-wise.  After  the  manner  of  the  anthem,  or  antiphon,  — 
alternate  voices. 

134  :  (5.  Turning  dances  into  figure.  Making  them  conform 
to  dilticult  and  varying  geometrical  devices.  The  protest  is  le.ss 
against  the  tigureil  dance,  it  would  .seem,  than  against  inart'Stic 
exce.sses  thereiji.     Compare  page  183,  lines  10  and  20. 

134  :  1(1.  the  scene.  The  raised  i)latf(n-m  supporting  the 
masquers  in  tableaux,     motions.     Dumb  show. 

134  :  10.  to  desire  to  see,  etc.  To  exercise  the  imagina- 
tion. 

134:21.  chirpings  or  pulings.  A  reference  to  the  extreme 
youthful ness  of  some  of  the  boys  permitted  to  appear  in  such 
spectacles. 

134  :  24.  oes.  Plural  of  '  o '  ;  meaning  here  brightly  coloured 
'rounds.'     spangs.     Spangles. 

134 :  30.  anti-masques.  Referring  to  a  burlesque  prologue 
setting  ol=f  the  real  masque  as  a  foil. 

135  :  2.  antiques.     Antics  ;  ridiculous  clownish  figures. 
135:;!.    turquets.    Possibly.  •  little  Turks.'    statuas.    Statues. 
135  :  li).    justs  and  tourneys.     Joust?,  were  combats  between 

two  individual  champions  ;  rournantents,  combats  between  sev- 
eral on  each  side,  barriers.  Obstacles  or  boundaries  in  the 
centre  of  the  li.sts  so  placed  that  the  encounter  could  proceed 


l'A<iE8  loo  1:37 J 


XOTES 


2nr. 


witlunit  bringing;  the  horses   together.     The  name   was  also 
applied  to  the  encounter  itself. 
135:20.  bravery.     Display. 


M 


XXXVITI.     OF  NATURE   IN  MEN 

(1(!12.     Eiilarjrt'd  ami  revised.  1(>'25) 

135:2:5.    Nature.     Human  nature. 

135  :  2(5.    importune.     Importunate. 

136  :  i».  if  the  practice,  etc.  If  one  reciuires  more  of  himself 
by  way  of  preparation  than  the  actual  occa-sion  will  require. 

136:  10.  "Optimus  ille.'"  etc.  'He  is  the  be.-^t  guardian  of 
the  mind  who  wrenches  at  once  the  gnawing  chains  from  his 
breast,  and  grieves  no  longer.'     From  Ovid's  licmeilin  Amorii^, 

line  29S. 

137  :  4.   lay.     Lie.     So  occasionally  in  Elizabethan  English. 
137:<».    iEsop's.    See  note  un  page  41,  line  8. 

137:7.   board's  end.     Table's  end. 

137  :  10.  put  himself  often  to  it.  Frequently  and  manfully 
face  the  temptation. 

137  :  15.    sort  with.     Are  adapted  to  ;  harmonize  with. 

137:10.  "Multum,"  etc.  'My  soul  hath  h)ng  been  a  so- 
journer.' See  I'salms  cxx.  (!,  frecpiently  quoted  by  Bacon. 
Note  the  autobiographical  value  of  the  passage. 

137  :  17.    converse  in.     Have  to  do  with. 

137 :  18.   affect.    Like  ;  prefer.     Compare  Shakespeare's  The 
Taminy  of  the  Hhreic,  Act  I,  Sc.  1  :  — 

"No  profit  grciws  where  is  no  pleasure  ta'en; 
In  brief,  sir,  study  what  you  most  affect." 

187  :  23.   spaces.    Intervals. 


HI 


HI 


260 


NOTEH 


[PAGts  138-13!, 


XXXIX.     OF  CUSTOM  AND   EDUCATION 

(1()12.     Enlarged,  1()25) 

138  :  2.    inclination.     Individual  temper  or  disposition. 
138  :  3.  infused  opinions.    Those  received  from  sources  otlier 
than  their  own  'inclinations.' 
138  :  4.   after  as.    According  tis. 
138 :  5,    Machiavel.     See  note  on  page  18,  line  24. 
138:  (5.    evil-favoured.    Of  ugly  countenance.     Machiavel's 
remark  has  reference  to  the  choice  of  knaves,  and  is  therefore 
sinister.     See  below. 
138 :  7.  bravery.     B(  astfulness. 
138 :  8.   corroborate.    Strengthe.ied. 

138:13.  friar  Clement.  Jacques  Clement,  156r>-1589.  He 
was  a  French  monk  who  a.ssassinated  Henry  III.  of  France, 
August  1,  1589.  He  himself  was  immediately  killed,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  'martyrs'  of  the  church  (1678-1010). 

138:14.  Ravaillac.     Francois  Ravaillac  assassinated  Henry 
IV  of  France  May  14,  1010.     J^ureguy.     He  attempted  to  kill 
nilliam  the  Silent,  Prince  of  Orange,  1582.     Baltazar  Gerard 
Assa.ssinated    William   the  Silent  in   1584.     All  four  of  these 
miscreants  were  contemporaries  of  Bacon. 
138:  18.   first  blood.     First  exjierience  in  murder. 
138:  19.  votary.     Determined  by  a  vow.     equipollent.     Pos- 
se.ssing  equal  power  ;  equivalent. 

138 :  27.   the  sect,  etc.     The  Gymnosophists,  an  ancient  sect 
of  Hnidus  who  devoted  themselves  to  contemplation,  and  lived 
an  ascetic  hermit  life. 
139:0.  queching.    Flinching. 
139:13.  engaged.     Enclosed  ;  bound. 
189:24.  take  the  ply.     Incline   in   the   desired   direction 
Compare  l»ope\s  Momt  Etimtis,  Epistle  I,  lines  149,  150  :  — 


I'AGES  140-141] 


XOTES 


267 


•'  'Tis  eduoatiou  f<»rnis  the  common  mind: 
Just  as  th(«  twij:  is  bent  tlie  tree's  inclined." 

140 :  2.  comforteth.    Strengthens. 

140:4.  exaltation.  Zenith.  Ti»e  term  'exaltation'  in  a^- 
irolo.iry  signitied  that  the  planet  concerned  was  exercisin-  its 
most  powerful  influence. 

140:  10.  ends.  Hacon  disli'^.l  to  observe  the  growing  tem- 
poral power  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

XL.    OF   FORTUNE 

(1(512.     Slightly  enlarged,  1()25) 
140  :  14.   "  Faber,"  etc.    '  Every  man  the  builder  of  his  own 

fortune.' 

140  :  If),  the  poet.     Bacon  attributed  the  origin  of  the  phrase 

to  I'lautus. 

140:  lb.    "Serpens,"  etc.     'In  order  to  become  a  dragon  a 
serpent  must  devour  a  serpent  ' 

140 :  20.  apparent.    Consi     .    >  s. 

140  :  22.  deliveries.     Ways  ■  '    ^eventing  unfortunate  lapses  ; 
or,  means  of  rescuing  one's  self  irom  weak  or  false  positions. 

140 :  24.  desemboltura.    Abbott  explains  this  term  as  "  (I )  A 
turning  of  .>ne\s  .self  inside  out ;  (2)  .shamelessness  ;  (:])  facility 

of  speaking." 

140:25.   stonds.     Stands;  hindrances. 

141:1.  Livy.  Titus  I.ivius,  i!.< .  -V.t-A.i..  17;  born  at  Tata- 
vium.     He  was  a  great  Roman  historian. 

141  : 2.  Cato  Major.  In  his  De  Sotectute  or  Co  to  Mojo,: 
Cicero  wrote  in  praise  of  old  age  in  the  person  of  Cato  the 
censor.  ''In  illo  viro."  etc,  'In  this  great  man  there  was 
such  vigour  of  body  and  of  mind,  that  wheresoever  he  ha<l 
been  born,  it  s-emed  certain  that  he  would  have  made  his  for- 
tune.' 


268 


NOTES 


[rAGEs  141-142 


141 :  o.  versatile  ingenium.    ♦  A  versatile  nature  ♦ 

141 :  10.  " poco  di  matto."     '  A  little  of  the  fooi.' 

141 :  24.  remover.     Unstable  man. 

J!o  ''  f^-/^,®'^"««^-    ^Experienced  ;  th.^roughly  known. 

142 : 1.  decline  the  envy.     Discourage  the  restless  criticism 

iia :  o.  taesar.    See  note  on  page  !)1,  line  i') 

f<aiune.''    "  ^*'^''"  ^''"^'"  ''''     '  ''""  '^''y  ^^^*'  ^^^  !''« 

142:7.   Sylla.    See  note  on  page  01,  line  11.    felix.    •^ortu 
iiate.'    magnus.    'Great.' 

nr'',r\^^iT''r-  ,  ^'"  ^'''""'"   '"'''"'  '''''  ^^^'d  -bout 
n.r.  ...4.     North  s  Iranslatmn  of  I'lutarch's  Llv.s  tells  us  that 

I.mo  heus  spoke  as  follows:  '^  My  Lonls  of  Athens,  FortuZ 

hnth  hrnl  no  riH  in  all  thh  x,hu-h  I  have  lohl  n.to  you.     Here' 

upon  the  gods,  it  sh.>uld  seen.e,  were  so  angry  with  this  foolish 

amb.t.on  of  Tin.otheus  that  ho  never  afterwards  did  any  wor  1^ 

ung  ;  but  all  went  utterly  against  the  haire  with  him  ;  untif^ 

e  length  he  eame  to  be  so  hated  of  the  people  that  in  the    nd 

did  not  only  pn,K.tly  abide  their  words  that  said  he  was  a 
-PPV  man  and  singularly  beloved  of  Fortune,  but  also  increa^ 

did  '  '■^.  "';'"7  ^"'^  '^'-'^'•""  -«  at  a  special  grace  of  the  go! 
I.d  attnbute  the  honour  of  his  doings  unto  Fortune,  e^ltr 

^  ^a.n  glory   ,>r  tor  that  he  had  in  fancy  that  the  gods  did  prol 

ner  hiin  in  all  his  doin^rs  "  ^  ^'"^ 

142 :  16.    Homer's.     See  note  on  page  127,  line  6 

142 :  17.   Plutarch.     See  note  on  patre  r>7,  line  24 

142 :  18.    Timoleon's.    Timoleon  was  a  famous  Greek  general 

M2  ■■  -■".   it  is  much  in  a  man's  self.     l)..,,e,KlH  cl,ic/lj.  on  tho 


I'aok  142] 


XOTKS 


2oy 


individual.  Compare  above  :  "  But  chiefly  the  mould  of  a  man's 
tortune  is  in  his  <.wn  hands. ''  This  is  the  cardinal  proposition 
of  the  essay. 

XLI.    OF  USURY 

(ir,2n) 

Tlie  question  of  lending  money  at  interest  was  a  vexed  one  in 
Bacon's  day,  owing  to  the  rapacity  of  the  lenders  and  the  hi-h 
rates  exacted.     Indeed,   it  had   long  been  an  open   question 
whether  any  rate  whiitever  was  ethical,     llumuii  sympathy  has 
been  generally  on  the  side  of  the  debtor,  and  there  are  niany 
passages  of  literature,  Biblical  and  post-Biblical,  that  present 
:uul  condemn  the  character  of  the  professional  usurer  as  a 
preyer  upon  his  neighbour's  distns.ses.     The  lesfrietions  and 
mcihods  that  govern  commercial  loanings  and  borrowings  to- 
day are  comparatively  modern,  and  although  Bacon  appreciated 
ilie  industrial  necessity  of  '  usury',  he  is  here  working  his  way 
but  slowly  toward  a  sound  economic  basis  therefor. 
142:21.   usury.     Lending  money  at  interest. 
142  :  2;}.   tithe.     Or  tenth  part,  set  apart  by  the  Mosaic  code 
as  each  man's  re^s.mable  offering  to  God.     Ten  per  cent,  was 
the  legal  rate  of    interest  under   Henry  VIII  and  Elizabeth. 
During  Victoria's  reign  the  law  ceased  to  take  cognizance  of 
rates."  In  the  United  States  the  legal  rate  varies  from  five  per 
cent.,  in  Illinois,  Louisiana,  and  Michigan,  to  ten  per  cent,  in 
Idaho  and   Montana,  but  a  number  of  states  allow  any  rate 
specifically  agreed  upon  by  contract. 

142:24.   his  plough,   etc.      Compare  Essay  XXXIV,  page 

126,  lines  13-10. 

142 :  25.  Virgil.     See  note  on  page  102,  line  4. 

142:  27.   "  Ignavum."  etc.      '  They  drive  the  drones,  an  idle 
crowd,  from  the  hives.'     tiotryiof,  IV,  1,  108. 


270 


AOTES 


[Pages  143-145 


143:  2.    "In  sudore,"  etc.     '  Tti  the  sweat  of  thy  brow  shalt 
thou  cat  thy  bread.' 
143 :  ;J.    "  In  sudore,"'  etc.     '  In  the  sweat  of  anotlier's  brow.' 
143  :r,.    orange-tawny.     1'hp  Jew.s  ^vere  reciuired  by  law  to 
wear  "yeHow  bonnets.'      judaize.      Imitate  the  usuriuu.s  hab- 
its of  the  Jews. 

143:7.  -concessum.'  etc.  'A  thing  granted  because  of 
the  hardness  of  men's  hearts.' 

143:11.  suspicious,  .luestionable.  The  early  banks  were 
not  fortunate  or  iiupular. 

143:12.  discovery  of  men's  estates.  The  examination  of 
men's  incomes  and  soinves  of  levenue  in  order  to  ascertain 
their  relations  as  lenders  or  borrowers,  and  to  control  those 
relations. 

143:14.    incommodities.     inconveniences. 

143:28.    vena  porta.    (Jatevein.    See  note  on  page  fi?,  line  30 

143  :  2o.    sit.     He  settled. 

143:29.    customs.     Heveiiues  through  taxation. 

144:8.  purchasing.  Acquiring  landed  estates.  Compare 
Chaucer's  Prohnftu-  to  the  Caiitevlmri/  Tahs.  line  :i20:  — 

"His  pureliijsyng  niyghte  nat  been  infect." 

144:11.    slug.     Hindrance. 

144:20.    stand.     Cessation. 

144:25.    foot.     Just  .standard. 

144:  2n.    gnaw.     Compare   Bacon's  letter  to  Conway  1028 
concerning  usury:    '•.   .  ,   how  to  grind    the  teeth  of   it,  and 
yet  to  make  it  grind  to  his  Majesty's  mill  in  good  sort,  without 
discontent  and  perturbation." 

144 :  2!>.  take  pawns  without  use.  Ueceive  security  without 
also  re(]uiring  interest. 

146 :  10.  Utopia.  The  title  of  a  book  written  by  Sir  Thomas 
M<.re  and   published    in   1516.      The   word   'Utopia'   means 


1'a(;ks  145-148] 


NOTES 


271 


•  Nowhere,'  and  is  applied  to  an  iniaj;inary  island  upon  which 
ideal  social  conditions  obtain. 

145:11.   reglement.     Hegulation. 

146:10.  tooth  of  usury.  Compare  note  above  oh  page  144, 
line  "20. 

145 :  23.   will  be  to  seek  for.     Will  be  distressed  for  lack  of. 

146 :  I.   shut  itself  out  to  take.     Hestrain  itself  from  taking. 

146:11.   edge.     Make  attractive. 

146:2(>.   answered.     Paid. 

147:5.    colour.     Make  appear  as  their  own  ;  borrow  to  lend 

again. 
147 :  13.   declaration.     Open  recognitioiv   conditioning  strict 

control. 

XLIl.     OF    YOUTH    AND    AGE 

(ICl'J.     Eidarged,  l(i'-V>) 

147:14.   A  man.  etc.     Compare  Bacon  himself. 

147:2-').  Julius  Caesar.  See  note  on  page  01,  line  10.  Sep- 
timius  Severus.     See  note  on  page  <>.  line  2. 

147:26.  '•  Juventutem."  etc.  'He  passed  a  youth  full  of 
errors,  nay  of  wild  excesses.' 

148:1.    And  yet,  etc.     Compare  Tennyscm's /»  Mnnoriaui, 

Lyric  53:  — 

"  How  nmny  a  fiithcr  have  I  seen, 
A  sober  man.  among  bis  boys, 
Whose  youth  was  lull  of  foolish  noise, 
Who  wears  his  manhood  liale  and  green  ; 

*•  And  dare  we  to  this  fancy  Kive, 

That  had  the  wild  oat  not  been  sown, 
The  soil,  left  barren,  searee  bail  ,i;idvvn 
The  grain  by  which  a  man  may  live  ? 

**0r,  if  we  held  the  doctrine  soiuid 
For  life  outliving  heats  of  yuth. 


1^ 


272 


NOTES 


[I'.voKS  148-14U 


Y<'t  who  would  preach  it  as  ji  truth 
To  thiise  that  eddy  round  and  round?" 

148:4.  Augustus  Caesar.  See  note  on  page  5,  line  24.  Cos- 
mus.     S<n'  note  on  pane  1:»,  line  20. 

148:'>.  Gaston  de  Fois.  (Jaston  de  Foix,  due  de  Nemours 
(14^0-1512).  a  son  of  Marie  d'Orlt^ans,  sister  of  Louis  XTT. 
He  was  slain  at  Kavenna  during  a  victorious  campaign  against 
the  Spaniards  and  Italians. 

148:7.  composition.  Mixture,  as  of  '  age '  and  *  heat  and 
vivacity.' 

148 :  12.  abuseth  them.  Fails  to  grasp  and  govern  "  new 
things"  adeciuately,  as  contrasted  with  young  men,  who  are 
"  fitter  for  new  in-ojects." 

148 :1<).    manage.     Management. 

148 :  21.    care  not  to.     Inconsiderately  ;   do  not  hesitate  to. 

148 :  22.  at  first,  rnscasonably ;  they  do  not  fit  the  strength 
of  the  remedy  to  the  progress  of  the  disease. 

148:24.   unready.     Intractable. 

148 :  28.    period.     Conclusion  ;  end. 

149:1.   both.     Old  and  young. 

149 :  3.  succession.      The  future. 

149:5.   extern.     External. 

149 :  0.  Rabbin.  Kabbi ;  master.  Wright  names  Abrabanel 
in  his  commentary  upon  Joel.  "  Your  young  men,"  etc.  See 
Joel  ii.  28. 

149:12.   nearer  to  God.     Compare  Henry  Vaughan's  The 

Be  treat :  — 

"  Happy  those  early  days,  when  I 

Shiued  iu  my  Aiigel-iu  fancy  1 " 

Taomas  Hood's  I Bememher :  — 

"  But  now  'tis  little  joy 
To  know  I'm  farther  off  from  hea  m 
Than  when  I  was  a  boy." 


Vxi.t  149J 


NOTES 


27" 


Byrou^A  Youth  and  Aye :  — 

"  Oh,  iHtuld  1  feel  as  I  have  felt,  or  be  what  I  have  been  I  " 

and  Wordsworth's  Ode  on  Intimations  of  ImmoftitUty :  — 

"  Our  birth  is  but  a  sleep  and  a  forgetting  ; 
The  Soul  that  rises  with  us,  our  life's  Star, 
Hath  had  elsewhere  its  setting 

And  conietli  from  afar ; 
Not  in  entire  forjjet fulness, 
And  not  in  utter  nakedness, 
But  trailinj;  cloii.ds  of  glory  »lo  we  come 

From  God,  who  is  our  home; 
Heaven  lies  al)out  us  in  our  infaiicy  ! 
Shades  of  the  prison-house  liegin  to  close 

I 'pen  the  growing  H*»y, 
But  he  beholds  the  light,  and  wlience  it  flowi, 

He  sees  it  in  his  joy  ; 
"       Youth,  who  daily  fartiier  from  the  east 
Must  travel,  still  is  Nature's  priest, 
And  by  the  vision  splendid 
Is  on  his  way  attended  ; 
At  length  the  Man  perceives  it  die  away, 
And  fade  into  the  light  of  common  day." 

149 :  20.  Hermogenes.  Ho  lived  in  the  second  half  of  the 
second  century,  a  famous  Greek  rhetorician,  son  of  Calippus  of 
I'arsus. 

149:26.  Tally.  Cicero.  See  note  on  page  57,  line  11. 
Hortensius  Quintus  Hort:nsius  (b.c.  114—")t»)  was  an  eminent 
Roman  orator,  a  conten\porary  of  Cicero.  ''Idem  manebat,^' 
etc.  'He  remained  the  same,  though  so  to  remain  was  un- 
becoming.* 

149  :  30.  Scipio  Africanus.  Publius  Cornelius  Scipio  Afri- 
canus  Major  (h.c.  2:54-18.3)  was  a  great  Koman  general,  whose 
defeat  of  Hannibal  at  Zama,  in  202,  made  him  the  dominaut 


274 


NOl.ES 


[Paok  laM 


ligiire  ill  Kon.o.  lie  bfonme  a  popular  hero  and  was  createil 
ct'iisor  and  ctmsul.  Losiiii?  favour,  on  account  of  the  niachiiiu- 
tionsof  his  iMU'iiiits.  hi'  retired  proudly  anil  silently  to  Litornuni, 
where  he  died.  Livy.  See  note  on  page  141,  line  1.  "Ul- 
tima," etc.    '  His  end  did  not  harmonize  with  his  beginning.' 


'^ 


XLIII.    OF  BEAUTY 
(1612.    Slightly  enlarged,  1625) 

Bacon  uses  the  word  '  Beauty'  in  a  very  limited  sei'se,  refer- 
ring  to  personal  comeliness.  There  is  hardly  a  huit  of  that 
idea  which  sees  in  beauty  the  agent  and  expression  of  truth. 
Contrast  Emerson's  nuich  ampler  treatment. 

150 :  1.  Virtue.  Compare  George  Herbert's  fine  lines  on 
Virtue,  as  attesting  its  sincerity  and  simplicity.  Compare,  also, 
from  Emerson's  Essay,  Beaut  if:  "  Beauty  rests  on  necessities. 
The  line  of  beauty  is  the  result  of  perfect  economy." 

160  :  T).   almost,     (ieneially. 

150  :  t>.    great  spirit.     llu,ii  ideals  of  life  and  conduct. 

150  :  10.    Augustus  Caesar.     See  note  on  page  o,  line  24. 

150:11.  Titus  Vespasianus.  See  note  oi;  page  .'>,  line  28. 
Philip  le  Bel  of  France.  I'hilip  IV.  (1268-1314),  as  son  of 
Philip  111.,  became  kin-  of  France  in  1285.  On  account  of  his 
personal  beauty  he  v,  as  surnamed  '  The  Fair.' 

150  :  12.  Edward  IV.  of  England.  Became  king  in  1461  and 
died  in  148:].  lie,  like  Thilip,  was  at  once  handsome  and  brave. 
Alcibiades  of  Athens.  A  great  Athenian  general  and  political 
leader  (H.r.  450-404).  who  was  noted  for  his  bearity  and  power. 
Ismael  the  Sophy,      lie  became  master  of  Persia  in  1478. 

150 :  15.   favour.     Feature,     colour.     Complexion. 

160:21.  Apelles.  A  mistake  for  Zeuxis,  a  Greek  painter 
who  lived  at  the  close  of  the  tifth  century  b.c.     He  applied  the 


I'ages  l.".0-15l] 


NOTES 


27') 


•composite'  priiu-iple  to  one  of  liis  >n..st  famous  puintingS 
selecting  live  virgins.  Applies  was  another  (in-tk  painter  of 
the  time  of  IMiilip  and  Alexandt'r.  Albert  Durer.  A  (Jernian 
painter  and  engraver,  1171-15JS.     more.     (Jreater. 

150:2ti.    would.     IMaiinetl  to  ;  dt's'.red  to. 

161  ::5.    that.     Vndcrstand  '  such' p'«'i^«'<1'"" 

151:5.  the  principal  part.  Compar.-  from  Emerson  on 
Beauty  :  '*  For  tliere  are  many  beautit's ;  as,  of  general  nature, 
of  the  human  face  and  form,  of  manners,  of  brain  or  method, 
moral  beauty,  or  beauty  of  the  soul." 

151 :  7.   many  times.     Fretpiently. 

161 :  8.    "  Pulchrorum,"  etc.     "  Beautiful  is  the  autumn  of  the 

beautiful.' 

161 : 0.  but  by  pardon.     Unless  his  youth  be  overlooked. 
151 :  14.  light  well.     Alight  upon  one  worthy  of  it. 


XLTV.     OF    DEFORMITY 
(lfll2.     Last  sentence  slightly  eliaiiged,  1(525) 

It  is  sometimes  said  tliat  in  this  essay  Bacon  has  drawn  the 
portrait  of  his  cousin,  Uobeit  Cecil,  Earl  of  Salisbury.  The 
only  evidence  of  this,  however,  is  found  in  :i  letter  written  by 
Chamberlain  Sir  Dudl.-y  CarUton,  Diot-mber  17,  l<U->,  shortly 
after  the  appearance  of  the  second  edition  of  the  Es,-<aiis  :  "  Sir 
Francis  Bacon  hath  set  out  new  '  Essays,'  where,  in  a  chapter  on 
Deformity,  the  world  takes  notice  that  he  points  out  his  little 
cousin  to  the  life." 

151  :  2w  "Ubi  peccat."  etc.  See  preceding  context.  But 
because,  etc.  The  nu'aning  is :  Because  a  man's  attitude  ami 
character  are  determined  by  his  own  will,  even  though  he  has 
no  control  of  his  bodily  appearance  the  effrct  arising  from 
the  conjunction  of  planets  at  his  birth  may  be  overcome  by 


270 


NOTES 


[I'A.iKs  l.VJ-15;^. 


the  strength  of  his  personal  goodness.    Compare  Shakespeare's 
Ttcelfth  Xi(jht,  Act  III,  sc.  4  :  — 

"  lu  Nature  there \i  no  bleiiiisli  hut  the  uiiiid ; 
None  can  be  call'd  deforiuM  but  the  unkind." 

152 ;  2.   sign.     Uf  evil  character. 

158:0.  a  perpetual  spur,  etc.  Compare  ln)m  Emenson's 
es*<ay  on  Beauty:  '-If  a  man  can  raise  a  smull  city  to  be  a 
j,'reat  kingdom,  can  make  bread  cheap,  can  irrigat*:  dt.-serts,  can 
join  ocean.s  by  canals,  can  subdue  steam  can  organize  victory, 
can  lead  the  opinions  of  mankind,  can  eidarge  knowledge,  'tis 
no  matter  whether  his  nose  is  parallel  to  his  spine,  as  it  ought 
to  be,  or  whether  lie  has  a  nose  at  all  ;  whether  his  legs  are 
straight,  or  whether  his  legs  are  amputated  ;  his  deformities 
will  come  to  be  reckoned  ornamental  and  advantageous  on  the 
whole.*' 

152:19.  upon  the  matter.  On  the  whole;  taking  all  into 
account,     wit.     Mimi, 

152:24.  obnoxious.     Servile,    officious.     Dutiful. 

152 :2o.  spials.  Spies.  Compare  Es.say  XL VII I,  page  160, 
line  24.    Compare,  also,  Shakespeare's  Jlamlet,  Act  III,  Sc.  1 :  — 

"  Sweet  Gertrude,  leave  us  too  ; 
For  we  have  closely  .sent  for  Hamlet  hither, 
That  he,  as  twere  by  accident,  may  here 
AtTront  Oi>lielia. 

Her  lather  and  myself,  lawful  espials, 
Will  so  bestow  ourselves  that,  seeing  un.«>een, 
We  may  of  their  encounter  frankly  judge,"  etc 

162:27.   reason.     Condition ;  rule  of  life.    Still.    Always. 

158  :  2.  Agesilaus.  See  note  on  page  26,  line  6.  Zanger. 
He  died  with  grief,  a.d.  1558,  at  the  execution  of  his  brother 
by  his  father. 

168:3.    Solyman.     See   note  on   page  66,  line  30.    JEsop. 


r.voE  i>j] 


SOTES 


2" 


t  4 


See  note  on  page  41,  line  8.  Gasca.  Pedro  de  la  Gas.a 
,1485-1')H7)  wan  a  Spanish  lawyer.  Ilf  was  sent  to  Peru  m 
i:,4r)  as  President  of  tlu;  Audience,  to  erush  the  rebellion  of 
(lunzalo  Pi/arvo.  He  sneceeded,  and  U'ft  Pern  quietly  in  \r>W. 
153:4.  Socrates.  One  of  'lif  nin.st  famous  of  the  (Ireek 
philosophers.     He  was  born  air^ut  b.c.  470  and  died  ..i»." 


XLV.    OF   BUILDING 

(l»i26) 

In  this  and  the  succeeding  essay  Hacon  rect^rds  some  of  the 
results  of  his  owu  plans  and  ohservations,  gained  as  master  of 
the  tine  estate  at  Twickenham,  given  him  by  Essex,  at  Gorhain- 
bnry,  and  at  York  House. 

153  : 5.  not  to  look  on.  That  is  their  use  as  dwellings  nmst 
tirst  be  considered,  and  afterwar.l  iheir  appearance  and  decora- 
tion. Bacon  by  no  means  de.spised  the  latter,  as  this  essay  ana 
the  following  extract  indicate  :  -  There  \\  >s  never  the  like  num- 
ber of  fair  and  stately  houses  as  have  been  built  and  set  up 
from  the  ground,  since  her  majesty's  Ye\^nr- Obsorotinus  on 

163 :«.  uniformity.  Symmetry  and  corre^ponaence  were 
over-formal  in  Klizabethan  iuchitecture. 

153:8.    houses  for  beauty  only.     Built  only  to  be 'looked  on 

153  :  10.    ill  seat.     Unfavourable  site. 

153  :  14.    knap.     Knob  ;  knoll ;  little  hill. 

153  :  20.    ill  ways.     Bad  roads. 

153-21  Momus.  A  god  of  the  Creeks  representing  the 
spirit  of  censure  and  fault-finding.  .*:sop  tells  us  that  Momus 
derided  Athene  because  she  had  neglected,  in  buildmg  a  house, 
to  provide  it  with  wheels,  that  it  might  easily  be  removed  from 
unpleasant  neighbours. 


278 


A'fJTKS 


[Packs  154-1,').") 


164:2.  commodity.  Advantage.  The  Latin  translation  has 
'nulla  annmixUtns.''  The  sense  therefore  is,  that  a  'seat'  is 
•ill '  in  so  far  as  it  is  removed  from  a  naviiiable  river ;  or,  that 
if  it  he  too  close  to  one  it  may  suffer  from  the  overflowing  of 
the  river. 

154  : .").    lurcheth.     Swallows  ;  consumes. 

154:11.    sort.      1 'Ian  ;  arrange. 

154  :  i;{.  Lucullus.  Lucius  Lurinius  Lucullus.  Born  about 
».«-.  1  HI.  he  ilicl  about  .-)7.  lie  became  consul  in  74,  and  there- 
after defeated  .Mithri.lates  and  Tigranes.  He  built  palatial 
vdlas  at  Tii.seuluin  and  near  Neapolis.  Pompey.  See  note  on 
page  82.  line  2.!. 

154  ;!o.    lightsome.     Light. 

154  :  2L   Cicero.     See  note  on  page  57,  line  IL 

154 :  27.  Vatican.  Palae.'  of  thf  pope  in  K(mie.  It  contains, 
so  ditfering  accounts  have  it,  from  4,422  to  11,000  rooms,  halls, 
etc.,  and  covers  an  area  of  1.151  by  707  feet.  It  contains  also 
many  famous  and  valuable  jiaintings. 

154  :2S.  Escurial.  Or,  Lscorial.  A  noted  building  standing 
tv.-enty-seven  miles  northwest  of  Madrid,  Spain.  It  contains  a 
monastery,  church,  palace,  and  the  mau.soleum  of  the  Spanish 
.sovereigns,  besides  a  fine  library  and  paintings.  It  was  begmi 
hy  riiilip  IL,  I-.O:}.  and  was  completed  in  1584.  Its  area  is  780 
by  020  feec. 

156:1.  several.     Sejiarate. 

155;  2.  banquet.     Diiiing-hali. 

156 :  .'5.  Hester.     St'e  Esther  i.  5. 

155:4.  triumphs.      Sli^ws ;     entertainments.       See    Essav 

155 :  5.   returns.     Turnings  ,)f  the  house  toward  the  back  • 
hence,  sides  of  the  court. 
155  :  24.    a  goodly  leads.     .\  leadel  roof, 

166  :  25.   statuds  interposed,    statues  placed  at  regular  inter- 
vals. 


!'\(iKS   liJ"(-l-')7 j 


XifTKS 


L>79 


155  :  28.  newel.  "  A  i)illar  of  stone  or  wood,  where  the  steps 
i.  rmiiiati!  in  «i  wimliiig  staircase."  The  column  to  which  the 
si,ii;il  niovenient  cont'orm.s. 

155::3(t.  point.     Appoint. 

156: 'J.  shall.  Or,  as  we  would  .say,  '  will.'  The  student 
slinuld  carefully  note  the  distinctive  uses  of  these  two  a\ixiliary 
\,  rbs.  They  may  be  found  .statetl  in  almost  any  iiood  grammar 
or  rhetoric.     An  old  mnemonic  .statemeiU  is  given  below  :  — 

"In  the  tirst  person  simply  'shal!'  foretells, 
I  In  '  will  '  a  threat  or  else  a  promise  dwells; 

'Siiall  '  ill  th.'  second  an  1  the  tliird  doth  threat, 
'  Will '  simply  then  foretells  the  future  feat." 

156  :  1<».  cast  into.  Contained  witnin.  on  the  outside.  The 
l.lir;i>e  modiliis  '  turret:,.' 

156 :  1<5.  side  alleys.  Paved  walks  bounding  the  court. 
.TOSS.  Similar  walks  bisecting  each  other,  in  the  .shape  of  a 
I  TOSS,  from  each  side  of  a  court. 

156:17.  the  quarters  to  graze.  The  four  .sections  of  the 
cmn   thus  left  to  be  turfed. 

156  :  Jo.    chambers  of  presence.     Audience-chambers. 
156:-'').    a  double  house.     Having  interior  courts.     ^See  the 

vmcce.ling  jdira.se,  and  see  also  page  157,  line  10. 
156:"J7.    cast.     Arrange. 
157:1.    become.     Tome.     Intensive.     A  rare  use. 

157  : -J.   embowed  windows,     liow- windows. 
i.57  :21.  paved.     The  paths  arouiul  and  across  it  only,  the 

lemanider  being  turfed. 

157:24.    forfsee.     IMan  ;  provide. 

157 : 2().   antecamera.      Ante-clramber.      recamera.      Rear- 
or  retiring-chamber. 

157  :  2s.   upon  the  ground-story.     This  refers  to  the  end  of 

the  inner  court. 


■i'lr 


280 


NdTKH 


[I'a(;ks  l.')7-l(lu 


167 :  29.   the  third  story.     « C)n  all  three  sides '  is  aiUh'cl  in 
the  liatin  translation. 

158:8.   avoidances.     Outlets  ;  means  of  escape  for  the  water. 
168 :  12.   same.     Same  size,  as  in  the  Latin. 
169 :  16.   built     Surrounded  by  buildings. 


XLVI.     OF  GARDENS 

(iG-r.) 

168:22.  a  garden.    The  Garden  of  Eden.    See  Genesis  ii. 
8-iii.  '.'4. 

158 : 2.].   the  purest.     Compare  T.  E.  Brown's  Hues  on  the 
beauty  and  ' godliness »  of  gardens: 

•'  A  garden  is  a  lovesume  thiuif,  God  woti 
Rose  plot, 
Friufjed  ikhiI, 
Fernt'd  rrot, 
Tl'e  veriest  seljoo] 
Of  pea<e;  ami  yet  the  fool 
Coiitciids  that  God  is  not  — 
Not  {UhW  ill  fjardeiis!  when  tlie  eve  Is  cool? 
Nay.  —  but  1  liave  a  si«;^ii ; 
Tis  very  Hure  (i«Ml  walks  in  niiii.-." 

—  My  (t'liiti/i. 
168  :  27.    civility.     Civilization. 

159:'.».    pine  apple  trees.     Pines. 

169:12.   stoved.     Kept  warm,     warm  set.     !St)  phut-d  as  to 
derive  most  benetit  from  llie  sun. 
160  :  2.    ribes.     Ked  ciinants. 
160  :  4.   satyrian.     ( "rchis. 
160:12.    melocotones.     A  i.eaelt-lilie  fruit. 
180  :  18.   ver  perpetuum.     •  Eternal  spring.' 
160:  24.    fast.      Ueteiitive. 


m 


i»A(iES  101-165] 


yOTKS 


281 


161:2.  Bartholomew-tide.  August  24,  the  annivei-sary  of 
the  massacre  of  the  Huguenots  in  Paris,  1572. 

161  :o.  musk-rose.  Let  the  student  examine  the  beautiful 
Hower  passages  in  Spenser's  lAorii'  Qini'iic  (Hook  Hi.  Canto 
Vl.  Stanza  4."))  and  Milton's  Lyrula.s,  noting  1m)\v  many  tlowers 
praised  by  these  poets  are  also  mentioned  by  Haeon. 

161 :  ">.   bent.     A  coarse  jjliable  grass. 

161:17.   alleys.     Tatlisj  walks.     From  the  French  a??f'r. 

161  :  1!>.   For.     As  for. 
162:7.  covert.     Slultered. 
162:0.   knots.     Flower-beds. 

162  :  12.  toys.  Tritles.  Note  the  humour  In  the  following 
suggestion. 

162 :  lo.   hedge.     A  boundinix  ^'ence  of  shrubs  or  bushes. 
162:10.  entire.     Continuou.s. 
162  :  :tii.    slope.     Sloping. 

163:4.  letting.  Hindering.  Compare  Shakespeare \s //am- 
IH,  Act  I,  vSc.  4  :  — 

"  rnhand  inc,  jicntlemenl 
By  heaven,  I'll  niak»!  a  gliost  of  him  that  lets  me." 


163:11.   busy.    Involved  ;  intricate.     Sop  the  next  phrase. 

163  :  14.    welts.      Borders. 

163:22.  peifect  circles.  The  'alleys*  are  to  be  tliree.  one 
at  tlu'  top  of  each  tliuht  uf  stejis.  Kach  alley  is  to  wind  around 
the  hill,  and  to  be  wide  enough  to  accommodate  four  persons 
walking  abreiWt. 

163  :  24.   chimneys.     Fireplaces. 

163  :  :'<).    receipt,     h't'ct  piade. 

164  :  22  equality  of  bores.  Pipes  corresponding  In  capacity 
to  tlu'  feedinu;-i)ipes. 

165 :  7.    wild  thyme.     Note,  among  many  tlower  pa»M.ii  >  in 


■'   I 


i    H. 


NOTES 


[Pages  lOo-US; 


3    U- 


Shakt'spcaro,  a  similar  tliough  shorter  catalogue,  in  A  Mid- 
surnvxr  \i(/h(,\'<  Drifnit.   Act  II,  Sc.  1:  — 

"I  know  a  liaiik  wlifreini  tlie  wild  thyme  blows, 
Wh«'rf  o.\-li|»s  iMiii  til''  iioddiiij;  violet  j^rows; 
Quite  ovriMMiiopied  witli  lush  woodl)iiie, 
With  sweet  iim.sk-roses  and  with  eglantine." 

165 ill.   pricked,     rianted. 

165  :  liO.    out  of  course.     Shaiielessly  ;  carelessly. 

165:28.  going  wet.  Walking?  in  the  wet.  This  is  to  be 
avoided  by  the  i;raveHinLi  i>f  the  alley .s. 

166  :  1.    would.     <  >UL,dit  to. 

166:4.    deceive.    I)elf;iu(l  ;  deprive  of  their  due  nourishment. 
166:  15.    rest.     liely  ;  depend. 

166  :J7.    platform.     I'lan. 

166:2!>.    some  general  lines,     'i'he  outlines. 

XLVil.     (»F   NKGOTIATING 

(b'>!t7.     Kidarired,  bll'J  and  l(>'2r>) 

167:7.  mediation.  Compare  Ks.say  X.W'II,  page  97,  line 
25  to  pa.ire  <ts.  jiu,.  11. 

167:11.    danger.     A  probability. 

187:i;i.   a  man's  face.     Comi)are  Kssay  VI,  page  18,  lines 

167:  14.    tender      Delicate. 

167:  i>^.  disavow  Negatively,  to  clear  up  inisappreheii- 
sioMs.     e.xpound       1   'siiivdy,  to  jmsh  home  his  argument. 

167:  I'M.  plainer  sort.  Compare  Kssay  XLIV,  page  152, 
liM.s  -Jl-^T. 

167  :  2-2.    success      Hesiilt. 

167  :  -4.  will  help  \N'iil  i;loss  over  any  unitleasant  news,  in 
order  to  ingratiate  tliemselvcH  with  their  employer. 


A 


I'ACiKS    UJ7-l(>t>J 


yoTKS 


283 


167:*2r».   affect.     Like. 

168:4.  absurd.  Dull.  See  note  on  page  18,  line  15.  bear 
out.     Justify. 

168  :  8.   prescription.     P^inst  elaim. 

168:12.  men  in  appetite.  ^Un  who  seek  to  acquire  c  to 
li«'  iulvanced. 

168  :  U.  start.  'V\\M  is.  which  of  two  men  entering  into  an 
aiirciini'nt  is  to  perfnnii  his  part  tirst  ?  The  words  "  .\  man"' 
and  "he  "  ri-ft-r  to  the  one  party  to  the  agreement  as  opposed 
to  the  other. 

168: -21.    practice.     Diplomatic  dealing  with   men;   negc^tia 
tion.    used    in   a  somewhat  .sinister  sense.      Compare   Sliake- 
speare's  Jlamlet,  Act  I\',  Sc.  7  :  — 

'*  You  may  choose 
A  sword  uiibated.  and  in  a  pass  of  practice 
Kequite  him  for  your  latlier." 

168:22.    discover.      I'licover  ;  reveal. 

168 :  2r>.  work  any  man.  Com])are  our  colloquial  expression. 
.\  nnin  '  worked  '  is  controlled  or  directed  unconsciously  to  him- 
self. 

169:1.    to  interpret.    In  interpreting. 


XLVIII.     OK   FOI.LOWKRS   AND   FRIKNDS 

(ir.»t7.     Kularged,  l»il2  and  l«)2r') 

This  e.ssay  is  not  without  autohiographical  value.  Ihnon 
was  never  a  hard  master,  and  then-  is  dctcumentary  evidem-e  in 
records  and  letters  for  the  statement  that  his  servants  often 
took  advantage  of  his  liherality. 

169:  7.    his  train,     'i'lie  metaphor  refers  to  the  peacock. 

169:10.    importune.     Inn)ortunate. 

169:  11.   challenge.     Look  for;  expect. 


't-    r 


'JHi 


ytfTHS 


[r.u.hs  ioy-171 


f 


169:17.    ill  intelligence.     -Misuiiderstaiulii-gs. 

169:18.    gloriOds.      N'ainglorious  ;  boastful. 

169:22.  export  honour,  etc.  iKtiaet  fn.m  his  reputation 
ami  txpusc  liiiu  to  tiiv\ . 

169:24.    espials.     S])\vit.     Seo  uoto  on  j)am'  1;"(2,  line  2."). 

170:  1.  officious,  itf.  Faiihtul  in  their  rei;iilar  la-sks,  and  a.s 
free  in  report  in-:  to  Mieir  nni.stt'r  as  ,,/  iiim. 

170:2.    estates.     IJank.s  ;  dc^ree.s. 

170  :  (1.    civil.      Keliuinu;  desirable. 

170:7.  too  much  pomp.  Compare  Kssav  .\I\',  patre  (.7. 
line.s  12-1."). 

170:'.».    apprehenileth  to.     liiderstand.-.  hu.v  i,.. 
170:12.    passable.      ioU-rable  ;    (•oninictipjace  ;  as  being  the 
iM'>ic  Worldly  in  the  iiiMlTcnsive  sense. 
170:  I!,    virtuous.     Able. 

170:  l.**.  in  favour  In  niaUers  ..f  per.soiuil  i^nice  and  pref- 
erence. 

170  :  2;;.  hold  out,  .!«•.  .M;iintain  the  txali.Ml  si;uHt;u-d  placed 
iipiiii  liini. 

170:21     one.     ("(.inpare    Es.say    X.W'Il,  pa-(!   !>1,  lines   11, 

f'f  SI  I/. 

170 :  L'f.    disreputation.     Disrepute. 

170:  J'.'     them,    their,      i'he   antece.lcnt   is  'a  man.'     Note 

he  \:fk    )|  aure'-nicui . 

171:'.    little  friendship.     Cotnparc  !  ssay  XX  V'H. 

171  :  b.    comprehend      liiclutie. 


XIJX.    OF  sriTo^? 

(I.V.17.     Kidaii;,  -.  V>iJ  *nd  Ui'ir,) 

171  :  l.'l.   embrace  suits.     Ind.  (take  u»  support  the  .faitor 
and  t"  :tdvancc  his  interests. 


I'xdKS  171-173] 


yifTES 


285 


171 :  li».    some  other  mean.     Somf  per^^on  or  inrtiu-iice  iiinio 

171:-*:'..    entertainment,     liitroiliutioii. 

172  :  •">.    countenance      Favour. 

172  :  M.  depraving.     Arciisinu'  falsely.    Disabling.    Drciying. 

172:  i:>.    referendaries.     l{(trr('t>s. 

172:14.  distasted.  Di.siiiistt-d  is  iln'  s;iui»'  wonl.  delays. 
Compare  liacMH".-  'suits'  for  ntlici'.  and  hi.--  !»:i'''  tit;  words  to 
Kiilkf  (Jrcvill"  :  '•  Fur  to  b.',  ;is  1  t..M  ynii.  !ik.'  cSiild  t'oliow- 
iiij;al)ird,  wliii'h  wh.'ii  he  is  n.an'.^t  t!;-ih  away  :iutl  li<;litflli  a 
little  before,  and  then  the  chilti  al'iir  i;  a-ain,  and  so  iv  iuj'n.i- 
t II III.  I  an\  wearv  of  it." 

172:15.  denying.  Decliuinir.  Note  the  ,'.\c's.>ive  allitera- 
tion in  thif;  .senti'tiee,  showing  the  Influence  of  eui>huisni  upon 
evm  Bacon's  s(MuewhaT  haughty  and  iliuMiilied  style. 

172:1«».  success.  Uesult,  chailenging  Ueqniring;  ex- 
pert inu. 

172:  \^.    gracious.     l'niiseworih\  ;  d^  .>^ervi<ig  of  thanks. 

172:1'.*.  the  first  coming,  ei.  .  A  .-uilors  nreeedence  in 
jioint  of  tinif  ought,  not  to  prf<1.0'vui     <■  "iif  iu  his  fi'voiT. 

172;-'i>.    his  trust.      I'hat.  is.  ihe  early  .>iiilor's. 

172:-'"..    note.     ln:>>rnuUioii. 

172: -'1  discovery.  l)i.sclo.>ure.  The -.n.  annig  is.  that  a  just 
man  who  feels  .■onii>eiled  to  r.'fu.^e  anothei'.-.  petition  will  not 
lak'  advantaLM-  ..f  any  infornialioi;  given  hiui  l)y  the  petitioner. 
In  the  lattevVs  hurt,  but  will  ><■  act  as  to  be  w(<rthy  of  trust,  either 
liy  retaininu  a  discreet  sil  'nif  ur  by  enour.iging  tiie  petitioner 
Li'  u>"  other  tneans. 

172  ;  "Jo.    of  a  suit,     iii  I'e    till'  iibjeii  nf  a  ...nit. 

172  : -'••.  voicing.  Annoum  ing.  forwardness.  An  advanced 
staire. 

173  :  1.    timing.      I'ns>ing  at  tlie  oppurtuno  nioiuout. 
173:1.    mean,     lnttiincdiaiy  ;  lepresentativc. 


286 


NOTES 


[Pages  173-175 


173:0.   certain.     Fixed ;  dofinit.'.    general.    Over-versatile. 

173-10.  "  Iniquum,"  etc.  '  Ask  for  more  than  is  eiiuitable, 
that  you  may  Jlft  efiuity.' 

173  :  lo.   rise.     Incri-ase  his  demands. 

173  :  15.  favour  Tliat  is,  tlie  vahio  to  Iiimself  of  the  suitor's 
unodwill  for  the  •■  fornicr  favour."' 

173:17.    letter,     ('ommendation  ;  testimonial. 

173:20.  general  contriver.  Cummon  undiscriminatinj; 
schemers. 

L.     OF   STUDIES 

(ISW.    EiilarRed,  l«;r_' and  I(i25) 

Among  the  most  admirable  .>f  the  r.s'.s-,///.s  in  point  of  balancefl 
rlirasing  and  concisely  powerful  expression. 
178:22.   delight.     IVrsonal  .satisfaction. 
173:2.-:.  ability.     Making  able. 

173 :  24.    privateness  and  retiring.     Solitude  and  retreat. 
173 :2«).   expert.     Kxpenenccil. 

174:2.   plots.     There  is  no  .sinister  m<aning.     Plans,  simply. 
174 :  '>.   humour.     See  note  on  page  22,  line  23. 
174:0.   proyning.     Pruning. 
174:10.  at  large.     Generally  ;  vaguely. 
174:11.    without.     Outside  :  beyond. 

174 :  I H.   to  weigh  and  consider.    Bacon'.-,  own  constant  habit. 
174:22.   curiously.     With  too  great  care. 

174:27.    flashy.     Insipid.     Compare   Milton's  Zyr/V?a.x,  lines 
12.'{,  124 :  — 

"  And  wheji  they  list,  their  lean  and  fla.shy  songs 
(W;tto  (ui  th.ir  Mi  jincl  pip-'s  of  wretched  stniw." 

174:28.   conference.     Conversation. 
175:  1.   present.     ()\\\< ': ;  alert. 
175:4.   witty.     Ingenious. 


Pages  176-177] 


NOTES 


281 


176:  «.  »'  Abeunt  8^udia,"  oto.  '  Studies  translate  themselves 
into  character.'     From  Ovid  s  U,n>id>'.^,  XV,  83. 

175:7.    stond.     Stand ;  hiiulniiue. 

176 :  8.   wit.     Mind.  . 

176:  17.  schoolmen  See  note  on  page  r,8,  line  'Jl.  cyminl 
sectores.     '  Splitters  of  cummin-seeds '  (very  small  seeds). 

176  :  18.   beat  over.     Work  quickly  «)ver  the  held  of. 

LI.     OF  FACTION 
(15gr.     A  few  Hues  added,  1012;  much  expanded.  1026) 

176  :  23.   estate.     Kealm. 

175  :  lJ.     respect.     Interests  ;  policy. 
176:1.   general,     rublic  ;  nonpartisan. 

176 -.5.   correspondence.     Consideration  ;  adaptedness. 

176  0.   Mean,     of  lov  rank,    adhere.     Slick  to  a 'faction. 
176  :  t\   which.     The  antecedent  is  '  man.' 

176:l*i.  passable.     Tolerable. 

176  :  13.    stiff.     Uncompronnsins. 

176:  IT.    LucuUus.     See  note  on  page  154,  line  13. 

176:  IH.   optimates      -Aristocrats.' 

176  :  lit.  Pompey.  S.  e  note  on  page  82,  line  2:'..  Casar. 
Sec  note  ■>n  page  01,  line  lU.  . 

176  :  22.  Antonius.  See  note  on  page  31 .  line  7.  Octavianus 
Caesar.  Augustus.  See  note  on  pa-e  5,  line  24.  Brutus.  S-e 
r.o*     m  page  01,  line  19.  . 

176  •  •>3  '  Oa^  ius.     Longinus  Caius  Cassius  was  a  conspirator 
against  Julius  Caesar,  n.c-.  44.     He  was  defeated  by  Antony  at 
I'.iilii  .>i  in  42,  .<nd  s  .?w  himself. 
176: -8.   seconds      Inferiors. 
.77:4.  '<?k&  m  '^ith.     Compare  our  colloquial  *take   up 

wi-U.' 
17';  .  i-   Delike.     Probably. 


am^ 


1>88 


XOTKS 


[l*A(.i:s  177-17'.» 


177.(1.   purchase.     Acquisition  ;  gain. 

177  :  7.    lightly,  etc-.    Easily  takes  the  palm  ;  wins  ailvantuKe 
177:'.'.    casteth.     Dtcid.'.s.  *"  ' 

177  :  1(».   even  carriage.     NVuuaiify  ;  or,  to  u.se  tl,e  .•olioquial 
Anieriiau  tciui,  '  inuuwiunpery.' 
177  .  1  J.   trueness  to  a  man's  self.    Self-coucern  ;  self-interest. 
177:  lu.    suspect.     Su.spicious. 

177  •  ir,.    -Padre  commune.'"     -Tlu-  con.moii  tatlier.' 
177:  l.s.    Kings.     Compart'  K*.ay   X  \     pa-rc  -l.},  li„e«  17,  .< 

177  :  L'.:.    "  tanquam  unus,"'  cic.     '  As  one  of  us.' 

177:  24.    league,     .^^ic  uutc  un  page  40,  line  22. 

177  :  M.  prim  urn  mobile.     Stc  note  on  i)age  47,  line  4. 


LH.     OF    CKRKMONTE.S   AND   RESPECTS 

'  l.".!i7.     >>lji{|,tly  .Milarsed.  1(512  :  fiirtlier,  KL'S) 

178:;:.    *oil.     Appropriatf  oninnirntati<m.  i>vealin<r  bv   its 
own  h.ssrr  v:.lu..  tl,.'  lu^utv  ,,;  th<'  ol-ji-r.  o.i.amented  more 'fully 
than  belort-.     Cuuii-are  Shakespeare's  I/,naht.  Aot  V,  Sc.  2  :  — 
"  I'll  be  \i.ur  (oil,  Uertes:  in  uiiiic  ignorance 
Y..iir  skill  ..ill.  lik.-  a  star  i'  the  darkest  niglit, 
St  irk  tii-ry  <.!l  indeed.  ' 

178  :  1_'.    vueen  Isabella     She  was  born  in  14o1,  at  .Madrigal, 

"•"I  '''»-'i  !   -M.    She  was  the  dau.duer  uf  John  II.  of  Castile,  and 

H-ca.ne  (,aeen  in  1474,  suece-  ding,  with  l\.rdina..d,  her  brother 

ilonry  IV.    She  marri.-d  Ferdin:.nd  ..f  Aragon  in  14«W,  and  was 

the  p:ifn)ues,s  n{  Christ-.pjier  Columbus,  14W2. 

178  :  2;{.    again,      'i  reium  ;  fur  their  i)art. 
178:2.-..    formal.     Precise;  punctilious. 

179  :_'    conveying.     Implying,  l.y  means  of  tone. 
179   .;.    imprinting.    Couvineing. 


■HH 


l'A<iKS  179-lH)] 


yoTKS 


289 


179  :  7.   keep  state.     Ueniciiiht  r  <»iu''s  dicnity. 
179:  11.   apply  one's  self  to.     Takf  an  inUirst  in. 
179:1."{.    facility.     A  1'h»  ea.-^y  ln>liU'ne.<^s. 
179.14.   stconding.     Ai^neinii  with  ;  sui>iH>rtin«. 
179  :  22.   attribute.     Insincerity  in  conipliuient. 
179:24.   respects.    Tolitt  fnnns  of  reirard.    curious.    Careful. 
179:2'>.    Solomon.     See  Kcil.  xi.  4. 

179:30.   point  device.     I'n'ci.so;  exact.      Colnpare  Shake- 
speare's Hamlet,  Acl  I,  Sc.  2:  — 

'•  .\  tiiruif  like  your  father, 
Armed  at  point,  c.xaitly.  (  aiKi-iu-, 
.\pp«ars  Iteforc  tlifin." 

and  Tirplfth  Si'jht,  Act  II,  Sc.  5  :—  ■•  1  will  be  point-devise  the 
very  man." 


LIII.     OK    I'KAISE 

(If.li.     Knlar^i.'d.  l(i-J.l) 

180:3.  the  common  people,  r.acnn  was  not  a  democrat  in 
M.c  <  xtrenie  .sense.  He  had  not  a  lii.uli  opinion  of  the  intelligence 
or  wisdom  of  the  mas.ses.     ••  1  do  not  love  the  word  piojtley 

180 :  10.  speci.s  virtutibus  similes.  '  Appearances  resein- 
bliiic;  virtues." 

180:  13.   quality.     Distinction. 

180:14.    Scripture.     See  Keel.  vii.  1. 

180:1">.  ••Nomen,'*  etc.  -A  ,uood  niiu'.e  like  unto  a  sweet 
ointment.' 

180  :  -*o.   suspect.    Tiling  to  be  suspected. 

180:21.  he.  The  ilatterer.  Bacon  frequently  allows  these 
hinti. 

180  :  22.  common  attributes.  Pleasing  phrases  which  may  tit 
any  one. 

u 


MICROCOPY   RESOIUTION   TBT   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


110 

Hi 


■  4.0 


lUUu 


1.4 


3.2     -^ 
2.0 


I 


1.8 


1.6 


^  APPLIED  IIVMI3E     li 

^^  1653  East  Main  Street 

r.S  Rochester,   New  York        14609       USA 

S  (^^6)   *82  -  0300  -  Phone 

S  (716)   288  -  5989  -  Fax 


nc 


290 


NOTES 


[Pa«;es  181-182 


181 : 2.  out  of  countenance-  Ashamed  of ;  troubled  con- 
cerning. 

181 : :}.  perforce.  Insistently  ;  emphatically,  spreta  con- 
scientia.     '  Despite  your  own  con.science.' 

181 :  (».   laudando  praecipere.     '  To  teach  by  praising. ' 

181 :  10.  pessimum,  etc.  '  Those  \v!io  praise  are  the  worst 
kind  of  enemies.'     See  Tacitus'  Agrieola.  4;>. 

181:11.  a  'proverb.  Compare  Theocrktus'  hlyUs,  IX,  24: 
'*  I  shall  not  raise  a  blister  on  your  nose,  by  calling  you 
beautirul." 

181 :  12.   push.     IMmple. 

181:15.   vulgar.     Common  ;  undiscriminating. 

181  :  10.    Solomon.      See  Trov.  xxvii.  14. 

181:19.    irritate.     Quicken  ;  provoke. 

181:21.  decent.  Compare  Essay  XXVII,  page  97,  line  29, 
to  page  98,  line  4. 

181 :  24.  magnanimity.  Since  he  raises  the  office  above  him- 
self, the  officer. 

181 :  25.  theologues.  Theologians,  schoolmen.  See  note 
on  page  58,  line  21. 

181 :  29.    sbirrerie.     Italian  shirm,  bailiff. 

182:1.   catch-poles.     Hailiffs. 

182:3.  St.  Paul.  See  2  Cor.  xi.  10,  2.3;  xii.  11  ;  Rom.  i. 
13. 

182 :  5.   "  Magnificabo,"  etc.     '  I  will  magnify  my  office.' 


LIV.     OF   VAIN-GLORY 

(1612.     Enlarged,  1(125) 

182:0.    prettily.      Ntatly.    iEsop.     See   note   (m   page  41, 
line  8. 

J82:  9.   alone.     Proceeds  without  their  jn-rsonal  furtherance. 


Pages  182-183] 


NOTES 


291 


182 :  10.  upon   greater  meaus.    By  agents  more  important 

than  themselves. 

Vainglorious  ;  boastful. 

Boasting  ;  braggadocliit). 

Effective.    Compare  Essay  XLVIIT,  page 


See  page  183, 


182  :  12.    glorious. 

182  :  13.   bravery. 

182  :  H).  effectual, 
ion,  lines  18-23, 

182  :  17.    bruit.     Sound  ;  noise. 

182:  l'.>.    civil.     Ilci'e.  as  opposed  to  military, 
line  8. 

182  :  21.    Titus  Livius.     See  note  on  page  141,  line  ^ 

182  :  22.  Antiochus,  Antiochus  III.  (;».«.  238-187),  king  of 
Syria,  surnamed  "  the  (Jreat,"  lie  formed  a  compact  with  the 
iEtolians  against  the  Romans,  and  entered  (ireece  in  n,c.  1«.>2, 
He  was  defeated  at  Thermopyhe,  and,  after  retreating  to  Asia, 
was  again  overcome  at  Magnesia,  and  was  forced  to  cede  to 
I?ome  all  his  tenitory  in  Europe  and  Asia  Minor,  ^tolians. 
A  confederacy  of  several  tribes  of  Central  Greece.  It  persisted 
from  about  h.c  323  to  1('»7. 

182  :  23.  cross  lies.  Lies  told  to  each  of  two  or  more  persons 
of  the  other  or  others. 

'  182:24.  a  man.    Thoas  did  so  in  negotiating  the  alliance 
between  the  .Etolian  League  and  Antiochus. 

183  :  3.  interest.     Influence. 

183 :  8.  military  commanders,  etc.  Compare  Essay  XXXVI, 
page  131,  lines  l'.)-22. 

183:10.    glory.     Boasting. 

183 :  12.  composition.  Combination,  glorious.  See  note 
above  on  page  182,  line  12. 

183  :  10.  "Qui  de,'"  etc.  'Those  who  write  books  belittling 
the  pursuit  of  fame  [nt-vertheless]  in.scribc  their  names  upo)\ 
them  '     See  Cicero's  T((seithni<v  Dispu'atiinKs.  I,  I'l. 

183  ;  18.  Socrites,  Si'c  note  on  i>age  103,  line  4.  Aristotle. 
A  great  (Jreek  philosopher,  n.c.  3S4-322,  pupil  of  Plato  and 


292 


NOTES 


[Pages  18;3-185 


founder  of  the  Peripatetic  school.  His  influence  upon  science 
and  philosopliy  has  been  extraordinary.  Galen.  A  Greek 
physician  and  pliilosopher,  botn  about  a.d.  130. 

183:21.   beholding.     Beholden  ;  indebted.     "  Virtue  "  is  the 
antecedent  of  botii   "it"  and  "his."'     The  meanincf  is,  that 
human  natury  is  not  on  the  alert  to  praise  virtue,  and  may  well 
be  assisted  or  stimulated  by  the  sugp:estions  of  virtue  itself. 
183  :  22.    Cicero.     See  note  on  pajjje  .")7,  line  11. 
183  : 2;}.   Seneca.      Sei-   note  on   pajie  5,   line   16.     Plinius 
Secundus.     Piiny  the  Younger,  Cains  I'linius  Cajcilius  Secun- 
dus,  A.D.  02-113.    A  Roman  author  and  publicist.     His  Epistles 
remain  extant.     They   contain   several   instances  of  personal 
vanity,  from  which  neither  Cicero  nor  Seneca  was  wholly  free. 
183:25.   seelings.      Ceilings;    originally,   any    'sealed'    or 
covered  surface  in  the  boundaries  of  a  room. 

183  :  28.  Tacitus.     See  note  on  page  5,  line  27. 

183:29.  "  Omnium,"  etc.  'In  all  that  he  did  or  said  he 
had  the  art  of  showing  him.self  to  the  best  advantage.'  From 
Tacitus'  Histories,  II,  80. 

184  :  3.  cessions.     C  icessions. 
184  :  0.    wittily.     Aptly  ;  cleverly. 

184  :  16.    glorious.     See  note  above  on  page  182,  line  12. 


LV.    OF   HONOUR   AND   REPUTATION 

(1597.    Omitted,  1G12,  though  appearing  in  the  Ms.    Enlarged,  l(J'_'r>) 

184:19.  without  disadvantage.  That  is,  not  as  sought, 
neither  as  obscured. 

184:20.   affect.     Aim  at. 

185  : 4.   temper.     Mix. 

185  : .-).  some  one,  etc.  Note  the  ambiguity  of  the  sentence. 
The  meaning  is,  that  one  action  or  set  of  actions  may  please 


I 'ages  IbO-lbOJ 


xori:s 


one  groui),  other  actions  another  fironp.  Hy  thus  '  teniperin-' 
his  actions  a  man  may  eventually  ••content  every  faction  ur 
combination  of  people.'" 

185  :  7.    husband.     Economist. 

185  :  11.  broken  upon  another.  This  anticipates  the  succeed- 
ing simile,  "like  diamonds  cut  with  faciis."  Honour  made 
sharp  and  brilliant  at  the  expensi'  of  one's  rival  or  competitor. 

186:10.  "Omnis  fama,"'  etc.  'All  fame  proceeds  from 
servants.' 

185  :  1!^.    declaring.     Makins:!;  clear  or  plain. 

185  :  2-2.  the  true  marshalling.      The  ordered  arran-iement. 

186:2').  Romulus.  The  traditional  founder  of  Uome.  Cyrus. 
Cyrus  the  (ireat.  founder  of  the  I'ersiaa  Empire.  Died  li.c.  o2'.>. 
Csesar.     See  note  on  page  01.  line  li>. 

185:20.  Ottoman.  Ottoman  I.,  horn  a.i>.  1250.  foui\der  of 
the  prcseixt  Turkish  dynasty.     Ismael.     Se»"  note  on  page  loO, 

line  12. 

185  :  30.  Lycurgus.  Lived  probably  in  the  ninth  century 
B.C.  He  is  the  traditional  lawgiver  of  Sparta.  Solon.  See 
note  on  page  102,  line  25.  Justinian.  Flavins  Anicius  Justini- 
anus.  Byzantine  emperor,  527-505.  He  caused  the  compila- 
tion of  the  Justinian  Code,  a  body  of  Konu\n  law.  Eadgar. 
.)44_()75.  He  became  king  of  England  in  058.  ruling  the  wh..le 
people,  though  Dunstan,  primate  of  (Canterbury,  exercised  the 
real  power.  Green  tells  us  that  Cimt.  who  becanu'  king  in 
1014,  "fell  back  on  '  Eadgar's  Law,'  on  the  old  constitution  of 
the  realm,  for  his  ride  of  gcvernment." 

18fi:l.  Alphonsus  of  Castile.  Alfonso,  or  Alphotiso,  X.. 
1221-1284,  surnamed  "the  Wise."  His  fame  depends  chiefly 
upon  his  authorship  of  the  code  h's  Sirtr  I'.'fidas,  the  fouiida- 
tion  of  Spanish  jurisprudence.  Siete  Partidas.  Liuiully,  The 
Seven  Tarts,  a  digest  of  the  laws  ..f  Sj-ain.  See  preceding  note. 
186:2.   liberatores.     Liberators,     salvatores.    Soviours. 


294 


XOTSS 


[Page  I8fl 


186  :  3.   compound.    Settle  ;  put  an  end  to. 
186 :  5.   Augustus  Caesar.     See  note  on  page  o,  line  24.     Ves- 
pasianus.     See  note  on  page  o,  line  28. 

186:0.  Aurelianus.  Roman  emperor,  A.r».  270-275.  He 
pacilicd  several  rebellious  tribes.  Theodoricus.  A  famous  king 
of  the  Kast  Goths.  He  invaded  Italy  in  4»8,  and  thrice  de- 
feated Odoacer,  its  oppressor.  He  then  became  joint  ruler  of 
Italy  with  Odoacer,  whom  he  slew  in  493,  continuing  to  govern 
Italy  with  wisdom.  Henry  the  Seventh.  Put  an  end  to  the 
Wars  of  the  Ro.ses. 

186  :  7.  Henry  the  Fourth.  He  ended  the  struggle  between 
Papists  and  Protestants  in  France,  signing  the  /Cdict  of  Nantes, 
1508.     See  note  on  page  14,  line  .'5. 

186:8.  propagatores.    'Extenders.'    propugnatores  imperii 
*  Defenders  of  empire.' 
186 :  11.    patres  patriae.     '  Fathers  of  their  country. » 
186:10.   participes  curarum.    '  Partnei:,  in  cares.'    See  Essay 
XXVII,  page  90,  line  28,  to  page  91,  line  3. 

186  :  21.    favourites.     Used  invidiously,  as  opposed  to  partici- 
pes curarum. 
186 :  22.   scantling.     Bound  ;  limit. 
186 :  24.  neffotiis  pares.     '  Men  capable  in  affairs.' 
186  :  29.   Regulus.      Marcus  Atilius  Hcgulus,  a  Roman  gen- 
eral,  was  captured  by  the  Carthaginians  during  the  first  Punic 
w.tr,  and  wa.s  sent  to  Rome  to  offer  terms  of  peace  to  his  coun- 
trymen.    He  advised  the  Sen.ite,  however,  to  reject  these  terms, 
and,  on  his  return  to  Carthage,  was  executed,  about  b.c.  250. 

186 :  30.  Decii.  Publius  Decius  bravely  challenged  death  in 
battle  H.c.  340.  His  son,  of  the  same  name,  imitated  his  ex- 
ample B.C.  295. 


I'AGKS  187-188] 


NOTES 


295 


LVI.     OF  JUDICATl'RE 
(IGl'J.     n«'viso<l  and  eiilarj^t'd,  Ki'ia) 

The  student  will  recall  Bacon's  career  as  Lord  Ciiancellor ; 
the  spirit  of  equity  and  loyalty  with  which  lie  addressed  him- 
self to  his  task  ;  his  desire  to  servo  the  kin.sj;  without  compromis- 
ing the  interests  of  justice  ;  his  close  relations  with  Huckin.ciham  ; 
and,  finally,  the  circumstances  which  led  to  his  fall.  See  the 
Introduction. 

187  :  6.  stick.  Hesitate,  pronounce.  To  proclaim  authori- 
tatively. 

187 :  7.   show.     Pretext. 

187  :  9.   plausible.    Provoking  uiuieserved  applause  ;  popular. 

187  :  10.   advised.     Careful ;  deliberate. 

187:12.    the  law.    See  Deut.  xxvii.  17. 

187  :  13.   mere-stone.     Boundary  stone. 

187:14.   capital.     Chief. 

187  :  18.    Solomon.     See  Frov.  xxv.  20. 

187  :  11).  "  Fons,*'  etc.  "  As  a  troubled  fountain,  and  a  cor- 
rupted spring,  so  is  a  righteous  man  that  giveth  way  before  the 
wicked."     {Remsed  Version.) 

187  : 2(i.   Scripture.    See  Amos  v.  7. 

188  :  H,  useth.     Is  accustomed.    C(unpare  Isa.    1.  4. 
188:11.    great.    That  is,  much  greater  than  the  other  side 

possesses. 

188:  12.   to  make.     'In  making.' 

188:14.  "Qui  fortiter,"  etc.  See  Prov.  xxx.  38:  "The 
wringing  of  the  nose  bringeth  forth  blood."  (Jiensed  Ver- 
sion.) *'  He  that  violently  bhnveth  his  nose,  bringeth  out 
blood."     {Vnlgate.) 

188:23.  Scripture.  See  Psalms  xi.  0.  "  Pluet,"' etc.  'He 
shall  rain  snares  upon  them  [the  wicked].' 


296 


NOTES 


[Pages  188-190 


188  :  2(».   Of  long.     From  times  long  past. 

188  :  'J8.  "  Judicis,"  etc.  '  It  is  a  judge's  duty  [to  consider] 
not  only  faits,  but  liicumstances.' 

189:1.  to  remember  mercy.  Comitare  Psalms  ci.  1  ;  Micah 
vi.  8  ;  Spenser's  Fiorii'  Qiicetip,  Book  V,  Canto  10,  Stanzas  1 
and  2  ;  Hhakespeans's  Merchant  of  Venice,  Act  IV",  Sc.  1 :  — 

"The  qualify  of  mercy  is  not  strained,"  etc. 

189:7.   "  well-tuned  cymbal."     Conipai    •'  cl.  5, 

189:8.   first  to  find.     To  anticipate  by  h...        .utterance. 

189  : 9.   conceit.     Wit ;  perception. 

189  :  11.    prevent.     In  the  original  meaning  of  '  anticipate.' 
189 :  14.  impertinency.     Irrelevancy. 

189 :  18.    glory.     \'aiu-glory ;   vanity,     willingness.     Eager- 
ness. 
189  :  19.  to  hear.     In  hearing. 

189  .  2o.    'represseth,"  etc.     See  James  iv,  6;  1  Peter  v.  5. 
189 :  20.   favourites.     Referring  to  legal  advocates. 

190  :  1.   obtaineth  not.     Does  not  win. 
190  :  2.  conceit.     Good  opinion.    All  three  pronouns  refer  to 


2.  conceit, 
the  client. 
190  : 4.   civil.     Temperate  ;  used  almost  in  the  modem  sense. 
7.  chop  with.     Take  issue  with  ;  pass  words. 


190 
190 
190 
190: 


14.   ministers.     Attendants. 
lo.   foot-pace.     Dais. 

10.   purprise.      Enclosure.      The  meaning  is,  that  all 
"the  place  of  justice"  should  be  guarded  against  irreverence 
or  contamination. 
190  :  18.   Scripture.     See  Matt.  vii.  16. 
190:21.  catching   and    polling.     Avaricious    and    thievish. 
See  note  on  page  182.  line  1.     Compare  also  page  191,  line  4. 

190:27.  amici  curiae.      'Friends  of  the  court.'     parasiti 
curiae.     '  Parasites  of  the  court.' 


I'a<;es  11)0-19:;] 


XOTES 


'J\)'i 


190 :  "JS.  puf&ng  a  court  up.  I'robably  a  reference  to  Cokt', 
Bacon's  gifat  rival,  who  more  than  once  pressed  the  question 
of  jurisdiction. 

191  :  4.  poller.  Stripper.  The  word  '  poll '  meant  orii^inally 
'  to  shear  the  hair  from  the  head  or  poll.'     See  page  IIM),  line  lil. 

191 :  <->.   understanding.     Versed. 

191 :  lo.  twelve  tables.  A  short  dij^est  '^f  Roman  law.  ».»-. 
451-450.  "Salus,"etc.  'The  welfare  of  the  people  is  the 
first  law.'     Found,  however,  in  Cicero's  iJc  /.eiii'u.s.  Ill,  .'5,  b. 

192:  12.   the  Apostle.    St.  I'aul.    See  1  Tim.  i.  H. 

192:13.  ''Nos  scimus,""  etc.  'We  know  that  the  law  is 
good,  if  a  mail  use  it  lawfully.'     {litvixtd  V^eraiou.) 


I  « 

I 


LVII.     OF  ANGEH 

(1025) 

Bacon  was  not  much  given  to  ani;er  — he  schooled  himself  too 
prudently  for  that  —  but  he  seems  to  have  had  full  experience  of 
it  in  others,  as  Elizibeth,  James,  Buckingham,  Coke.  He 
refers  here  to  personal  anger  only,  excited  by  personal  wrongs. 
The  last  paragraph  expresses  the  worldly  wisdom  of  a  man  who 
had  had  occasion  for  testing  his  own  precepts.  The  student 
should  read  the  letter  of  complaint  sent  by  Bacon  to  Cecil, 
April  20,  1601,  concerning  "the  abuse  I  received  of  Mr.  Attor- 
ney-General, publicly  in  the  Exchequer,  the  first  day  of  term." 

192: 15.  bravery     Vain  whim  or  effort. 

192 :  10.  Stoics.  See  note  on  page  0,  line  4.  oracles.  See 
Eph.  iv.  26. 

192 : 1 8.  race.     Course. 

192:20.  attempered.    Controlled. 

193 : 3.  Seneca.  See  note  on  page  5,  line  16.  In  the  De  Ira, 
I,  1.    ruin     Literally,  a  falling. 


298 


IfoTES 


[Paues  19:]-H»:. 


193:5.    Scripture.     See  Luke  xxi.  10. 

^93:  H.  "  Animasque,"  vtv.  '  And  spind  their  lives  in  [giv- 
ing] ji  wound.'     iMoiu  N'ergil's  (fconjirn,  IV,  2;}8. 

193:24.   construction.     Intcrpntatidn. 

193:20.  circumstances  of  contempt,  fompaie  Malvolit.'.s 
juiger  agaiii.sJ,  Maria  in  Siial<e.sp('an.'s  Titclfth  Xujht,  Act  II, 
So.  ;{:  «'  Mi.stres.s  Mary,  if  yen  prized  my  lady's  favour  at  any- 
thing more  than  eontempt,  you  would  not  give  nutans  for  this 
uncivil  rule  ;  .she  sliall  know  of  it.  by  thi.s  hand." 

194:1.   the  touch.      I'he  tainting. 

194:;'..  Consalvo.  (Jon/alo,  Hernandez  de  Cordova,  145:}- 
1515.  He  brought  about  the  capture  of  Granada,  and  drove 
the  French  from  Xai)lfs. 

194 :  1.    '•  telam,'"  etc.     *  Honour  of  a  stronger  web.* 

194:  HI.   contain.     Keep. 

194:  i;5.    aculeate.     Po'nted  ;  provoking. 

194:14.  proper.  Stingingly  tit.  communia  maledicta. 
'  Connnon  insults.' 

194:28.  sever.  Keep  him  from  imputing  the  injury  to  i^e 
motive  of  contempt. 


LVIII.     OF   VICISSITUDE   OF  THINGS 

(loiin) 

195:  1.   Solomon.     See  Feci,  i.  0. 

195:2.  Plato.  See  note  on  page  55.  line  20.  Plato  held 
Jiat  the  mind  retains  ideas  carried  over  from  a  previous  exist- 
ence. 

195 :  4.  sentence.     Opinion. 

195:5.   Lethe.     A  rivt-r  t)f  Hades,  the  waters  of  wiiich  pro- 
chicfd  in  the  person  drinking  them  insensibility  to  the  past. 
195: 11.   motion.     The  movement  of  the  lieavens  around  the 


I'AGKH  105-11)0] 


XOTKS 


200 


earth.     Bacon  was  not  a  CoiK-rniciMi,  as  the  Kssays  fiv(iuently 

ti'stifv. 

195:1:?.   the  matter.      Matter,   simply,     a   perpetual  flux. 
Compare  the  phih.snphy  of    Ilerarlitus  (.>.ee  note  on  pa-e  •.••., 
line  7),  who  hehl  that  all  thinijs  are  in  a  eonslaut  tlux  ot    be- 
coming and  passin-  away,  that  lire  is  the  worl.l--roun.l,  an.l 
that  all  these  ehantres  tend  to  the  establishment  of  a  vast  har- 
mony.    Compare  also  the  modern  atomic  theory  of  the  physi- 
cist. 
195:  U.   stay.     «tand.~,iill. 
195:17.    merely.     I'tterly;  completely. 
195:  IH.   Phaeton's  car.      rhaeton,  .,.•  Vh  ..  thon.  nv  's  a  ~ 
Oi   Helios  — the  sun  g..d-and  I'rote.  and  was  -iveii  p.  luussi     . 
by  his  father  to  drive  the  chariot  of  the  Sun  for  one  day       I  ^f 
result  was  about  to  prove  disastrous  for  heaven  and  earth,  w' 
Jupiter  hurled  a  ihunderbolt  at  l'hae;on  and  destroycil  hun. 
195:  19.    Elias.     See  1  Kind's  xvii.  IH. 
195:20.   particular.    Partial. 

195:27.    Oblivion,  etc.     The  result   is,  that  oblivion  of  th. 
past  is  ju.st  as  complete  as  if  there  had  been  no  surviv.u-s. 

196:0.   the  Egyptian  priest.      A   reference  to  the  story  lu 
Plato's  Tima'us.     Solon.     See  note  on  pa-e  102.  line  25. 

196:7.  Atlantis.    A  mythical  island  referred  to  by  I'lato  an<l 
others,  suppo.sed  to  have  been  situated  off  the  coast  of  north 
west  Africa,  and  to  have  disappeared  in  a  cataclysm. 
196: 10.   Machiavel.     See  note  on  pair*'  IH.  hiio  24. 
196:18.   Gregory  the  Great.      Hon-   540,  became  pope  oOO. 
died  604.     He  is  said,  on  .loixbtful  authority,  to  have  attacked 
and  souiiht  to  destroy  the  monuments  of  antiquity. 
196:22.    Sabinian.     Gresory's  successor,  (504. 
196:24.   superior  globe.     Starry  heavens. 
196  :  25.   Plato's  great  year.    The  period  mentioned  by  Plato 
in  the  Tumvns  as  accomplished  when  all  the  stars  and  planets, 


300 


NOTES 


['•ages  19t;-lJ>« 


having  completed  their  orbits,  return  to  tlieir  original  starting', 
points.  '^ 

196:27.  lilce.  The  same  as  those  whose  lives  in  the  last 
Great  Year  individually  correspond  with  those  of  their  suc- 
cessors, fume,  liifounded  opinion  ;  whim.  Compare  Bn.wu- 
injj's  An  Epistle  Contaiubiy  the  Strange  Medical  Experience  of 
Karshiah,  the  Arab  Physician,  lines  1()2-1U(5  :-— 

••  •  Such  oases  are  (liurnal,'  thou  wilt  cry. 
Not  so  this  fijjnient  !  —  not,  that  siu-li  a  fume, 
Instead  of  siviiij;  way  to  time  mil  health, 
Should  eat  itself  into  the  life  of  lilV, 
As  safTroii  tingeth  tiesh,  blood,  bones  and  all !  " 

196 :  20.   accurate.     Nice  ;  exact. 
197 :  0.   version.     Direction. 
197:8.   toy.     Trifle. 

197:9.   given    over.     Despised;    ignored,     waited    upon. 
Considered. 
197:12.   suit.     Succession. 

197  :  21.   orbs.    Motives.     A  metaphor  from  Bacon's  astron- 
omy. 

197:22.    «'built,"etc      See  Matt.  xvi.  18. 
198:1.   doubt.     Fear.    Note  several  uses  of    the  word  in 
Hamlet's  '  love-letter '  to  Ophelia  :  — 

"Doubt  thou  the  sturs  are  fire, 
Doubt  that  the  sun  doth  move; 
Doubt  truth  to  l>e  a  liar, 
But  never  doubt  I  love." 


See  note  on  page  10,  line  27. 

Civil    government.     Compare    line    12 


198:4.  Mahomet. 
198 :  7.   authority. 

below. 

198  :  11.   Arians.     .\rins  was  excommunicated  as  a  heretic  at 
Alexandria  in  321,  and  his  wnws  were  condemned  by  the  Couii- 


l'A«!t«  lOb-201] 


A'O  /  r:s 


:m 


cil  of  Xicii'a  in  T/Jr).  He  hdtl  that  the  Sou's  natuvp  is  n<>t  iden- 
tical  with  tlif  F  llu-v's,  Imt  ivseiiiblis  il  ami  is  subordinaif  l<» 
it.  Arminians.  Ainiiuius  —  Dr  Jacob  Ilarnit'iisen,  ir)«>(>-ir)O0  — 
was  a  famous  Dutcli  tlifoloi;ian.  His  ft.llowvrs  divw  up  five 
articlrs  of  "  Kciuoiistraucf,"  stating  their  points  of  lepartuie 
from  tlio  Calviiiistic  doctrines.  Notably,  tlu'y  insisted  upon 
the  freedom  of  tii"  will  a.s  opp(>^L'd  to  predestination. 

198:12.   wi^s.     minds. 

198 : 2;».   CO      ound.     Settle. 

19t.''.  Gal  GraBcia.  (ialatia  was  invaded  b.c.  278.  Rome 
was  iiivadc.;  by  the  tJauls  about  n.c.  :>'.>(). 

199  :"V  Almaigne.  (Jermany.  Charles  the  Great.  Or, 
''harlc-n.r^ne,  742  (?)-814,  king  of  the  Franks  and  emperor  of 
the  Ronuins.  He  greatly  extended  his  dominions  through  cou- 
(piest. 

200  :  11.   go  on.     Continue. 

9.(Ki:\2.   sustentation.     Sustenance  ;  support. 
200  :  24.   certain,  etc.     But  there  is  no  authority  for  this  as- 
sertion, and  Bacon  is  probably  relying  upon  a  fable  of  his  day. 
200  :  oO.   fetching,  etc.     Having  a  long  range  ;  carrying  far. 
201:4.   arietations.    Attacks  with  batteriug-rams.    Compare 

the  I/.au  arics. 

Appointing. 
Forces ;  troops. 

(Jiven  order;  appropriately  restricted. 
Kxhausted. 
201 :  27.   turning  wheels,  etc.     It  is  interesting  to  notice  that 
Spenser's  Foerh-  Quefue  concludes  with  a  fragment —  Of  Muta- 
5<7<7Je  — dealing  with  the  same  theme  as  this  last  full  essay  of 
Baco.i's. 
201 :  2i'    philology.     Traditional  accounta. 


201 :  10.  pointing. 

201 : 1:5.  battles. 

201 :  25.  reduced. 

201:26.  exhaust. 


INDEX   TO   NOTES 


Abbott,  E.  A.,  quoted,  224,  228,    advoutresses,  231. 


2()7. 
Aheunt  atudia,  etc.,  287. 
abiljiy,  286. 
abridgment     of     a     monarchy, 

2rjO. 
absurd,  2(MK 
abuseth  them,  272. 
Academicians,  205. 
accident,  252. 
according  to  art,  252. 
accurate,  300. 
action ,  252. 
Actiura,  250. 
actor,  240. 
aculeate,  298. 
adamant,  229. 

Addison,  Joseph,  quoted,  253. 
AOeste,  etc.,  205. 
adliere,  287. 
admirable,  244. 
a  double  house,  279. 
Adrian,  213. 
adust,  202. 
Advancement  of  Learnhiff,  The, 

cited,   212  ;    quoted,  203,   210, 

2.')7,  2(50. 
advancements,  258. 
advantage,  249. 
Adversity,  Of,  207. 
ttdvised,  229. 


.Esop.  218. 
.Kiolians,  291. 
alTcct.  2()5. 
Affected,  239. 
affecting,  203. 
affecting  of,  218. 
after  as.  266. 
again,  288. 
.\gamemnon,  206. 
Agesilaus,  213. 
agitation,  2M. 
agreeably,  254. 
Agrippa,  243. 
Agrippiiia,  230. 
Alcibiades  of  Athens,  274. 
Alcoran,  224. 
Alexander  the  Great,  230. 
a  little  idol,  215. 
alleys,  281. 
allow,  22«». 
Almaigne,  301. 
almost,  274. 
aloft,  2t>4. 
alone,  2*)0. 

Alphonsus  of  Castile,  293i 
Alyattes,  247. 
Anihition,  Of,  201. 
Amici  curix,  2*.K). 
Anabaptists,  206. 
Anger,  Of,  297. 


303 


304 


IM)KX   TO  NOTES 


Animasqiie,  etc.,  2().H. 

another  liimself,  li4."». 

Ansel inus,  'I'-Vl. 

jiiitecainera,  -7!». 

aiitheni-wise,  _'fi4. 

anti-masques,  L'()4. 

Antiochus  III.,  291. 

antiques,  2(>4. 

Antouius,  Marcus,  214. 

any  case  tliat  deserveth  pity,  253. 

Apelles,  274. 

Apollo,  225. 

Apollonius,  2.S1. 

apparent,  2<)7. 

Appius  Claudius,  214. 

apposed,  2157. 

approhendeth  to,  284. 

approaches,  231. 

Arhela,  247. 

Ares,  225. 

argument,  247. 

Argus,  236. 

Arians,  300. 

arietations,  301. 

Aristander,  259. 

Aristophani-s  cited,  260. 

Aristotle,  205,  224,  291. 

Arius,  o(X). 

Armiiiians.  1301 . 

Arncld,  Matthew,  cited,  242. 

artificial,  223. 

as  he  will,  250. 

assay,  221. 

At  doinus,  etc.,  269. 

at  tirst,  272. 

Ada  ism,  Of,  224. 

Atlanticus,  261. 

Atlantis,  299. 

at  large,  286. 

Atque  is,  etc.,  223. 


attempered,  2it7. 
attempers,  219. 
Atticus,  250. 
attribute,  289. 
Augustine,  203. 
Aureliauus,  294. 
authority,  300. 
aversation,  241. 
avoidances,  280. 
a  wise  father,  207. 

Bacon,  his  experience  and  char- 
acter ;ts  revealed  in  the  E-ssaj/s, 
205,  207,  2()8,  20il,  210,  213,  214, 
215,  21(5,  217,  219,  220,  224.  22S, 
229,  231,  233,  2.3.5,  J37,  241,  245, 
246,  252,  253,  254,  25.5,  261,  2t>2. 
263,  265,  267,  269,  271,  274,  275, 
277,  28;5,  285,  28<;,  289,  295,  297, 
300  ;  his  style  and  syntax.  203, 
209,  210,  211,  214,  215,  220,  221, 
222,  225,  2:;i,  232,  233,  2;U,  239, 
241,  245,  24(i,  247,  248,  249,  252, 
25;*,,  2.54,  2.->5,  25<i,  257,  258,  2(>4, 
2(r),  266,  271,  272,  275,  279,  281, 
283,  284.  285,  2H6,  287,  289,  291, 
292,  293,  296. 

Bajazct,  232. 

balance  himself,  217. 

bancpiet,  278. 

Barnham,  Alice,  210. 

barriers,  2<54. 

Bartholomew-tide,  281. 

bear  it,  221. 

bear  out,  283. 

beat  over.  287. 

Beauty,  Of,  274. 

beaver,  2(>0. 

because,  211. 

Becket,  Thomas,  232. 


INDEX   TO  NOTES 


305 


become.  279. 

behuldiug,  214. 

belike,  287. 

bent,  281. 

Bernard,  St.,  220. 

bias,  238. 

BioD,  225. 

births,  239. 

blacks,  204. 

blanch,  2;i5. 

Bod  ley.  Sir  Thomas,  237. 

lioUJness,  Of,  217. 

lioiia  reruni,  etc.,  208. 

both  coustitutions,  248. 

Brasidas,  260. 

brave    (verb),    223;  (adjective), 

bravery,  21G. 

Briareiis,  222. 

bribery,  216. 

broke,  257. 

broken  music,  2<>4. 

Brown,  T.  E.,  quoted,  280. 

Browning,    Robert,    cited,    'l'ir>; 

quoted,  203,  22r»-22(>,  2;W,  ',M). 
bruit,  291. 

Brutus,  Decinuis,  243. 
Brutus,  M.  .Junius,  243. 
Buckinjjham,  297. 
UidhJinr/.  Of,  277. 
Bunyan,  John,  (•ite<l,  222. 
Burrhus,  2.">7. 
Iturses,  229. 
Busbechius.  218. 
busy,  2'.).S,  281. 
but '  /  pardon,  275. 
buzzes,  253. 
by  catches.  2(54. 
Byron,  (^leorge  Gordon,  quoted. 

273. 


cabinet  councils,  2'M. 

C/R'sar,  Augustus,  204. 

Cresar,  .lulius,  243. 

Ciesareoi  portas,  etc.,  21 

calendars,  220. 

(Jalpurnia,  243. 

can,  21(5. 

Canaries,  257. 

(■aiitons,  219. 

capital,  21>5. 

<"aracalla,  2.'?0. 

card.  229. 

Curieton,  Sir  Dudley,  275. 

Carnegie.  Andrew,  268. 

Cassius.  287. 

east ,  24.".. 

ciisteth,  288. 

cat,  237. 

i-atchinfj  and  polling,  296. 

catch-poles,  290. 

Cato  Major,  2H7. 

Cecil,  Sir  Robert,  237,  276. 

Celsus,  252. 

censure,  247. 

Circhionit'.'i   and    Jiespecta,    Of, 

288. 
certain,  255. 
certify,  255. 
ccNsions,  2^>2. 
challenge.  28.3. 
chambers  of  presence,  279. 
cluipnien,  257. 
chargeable,  250. 
Charlemagne,  301. 
CInirles  V,  230. 
Charles  the  Great,  301. 
Charles  the  Hardy,  243. 
Chaucer,    Geo*^    -y.    «»ted,    225; 

(iuoted.237,  :;.">2,  270. 
check,  215. 


306 


INDEX    TO  XOTES 


^i  .1 


fhess,  218. 

Chesterton,  G.  K.,  quoted,  212. 

chiinneys,  'JSl. 

chii'piii^s  or  pultuns,  2(14. 

clu>i»  with,  '-'".HI. 

("ict-ro,  M.  Tullhis,  '."'T. 

ciremnstanct's,  2'A. 

citizen  t>f  the  world,  219. 

civil,  2'_'7,  284,  2%. 

civility,  28(). 

Cleon,  2(K). 

doth  of  Arras.  244. 

Ciim.i-h,  X.  H.,  cited,  225. 

coemption,  2r»8. 

t'offlta,  etc.,  2()4. 

Coke,  Sir  Edward,  2;»7. 

ctdoiiies,  248. 

colour  (verb),  271;   (lumu),  274. 

coiuforteth,  2(57- 

CoMiiueiis,  243. 

con)niiserable,  2.')6. 

coniniodity,  278. 

Coniniodns,  2:50. 

coniiiioi)  attributes,  289. 

conuuon  parents,  221. 

common  people,  28!>. 

commonplaces  and  themes,  25;?. 

i'OhiiiiUiiia  mulpilk'tn,  2'.lS. 

composition,  2r»2,  272. 

composition    and     temperature, 

2()«>. 
compound,  214. 
comprehend,  284. 
conceit,  2r>(;,  29(). 
coucaxsum,  etc.,  270. 
confeder.ate.s,  249. 
conference,  28(5. 
Contf(tta,  etc.,  220. 
Consalvo,  298. 
conscience,  210. 


(^(ntsiUnin,  etc.,  2r»0. 

consistories,  229, 

Constantinus  the  Great,  231 

construction,  298. 

contain,  21>8. 

contemplative,  225. 

content,  2'A. 

contumely,  227. 

converse  in.  2<!5. 

conveyiufj,  288. 

coppice.  248. 

correspondence,  223,  287- 

c«»rroborate,  2(»0. 

Cosmus,  297. 

Council  of  Trent,  228. 

Counsel,  Of,  2;«. 

countenance,  285. 

covert,  281. 

Crispus,  2;U. 

Croesus,  247. 

crooketh,  2:?8. 

cro.siers,  232. 

cross,  2',Mi. 

cross  lies,  291. 

Cuin  non  sis,  etc.,  21S. 

Cu>iHb\(f,  Of,  2.%. 

curious,  240,  289. 

currently,  2r)2. 

Custom  and  Koucution,  Of,  2iV, 

custcuis,  270. 

cyini  li  sectoi'p.s,  287. 

Cyrus,  247,  293. 

dainty,  2&4. 
danger,  282. 
darken  it,  21.^ 
daubed  with  cost,  26?. 
David's  harp,  "0),. 
dearest  pledges,  211. 
Death,  Of,  204. 


INItKX   T't  NOTES 


3o; 


/>«•       AuymentiK      St'ientiunit 

cited,  :iOi». 
deceive,  282. 
Decii,  21H. 
declaration,  '.'Tl. 
declaring,  2i).! 
declination,  14'*. 
decline  the  e.  v  , ,  268. 
D'forniitjf,  Oj,  _'75. 
delays,  28r>. 
Delays,  Gf,  235. 
delight,  2m. 
deliveries,  231,  2<)7. 
Demetrius,  232. 
Denioeritus,  224. 
DeuiostliHiies,  21  j 
denying,  28."). 
dependenees,  263. 
depraving,  285. 
tlepress,  232. 
derive,  213. 
(lesetnboKiirx,  267. 
desire  to  see,  264. 
destitute,  256. 
device,  264. 
Devita,  etc.,  206. 
Diagoras,  225. 
diaries,  229. 
diet,  229. 
dirticileness,  218. 
Diocletian,  230. 
disabling,  285. 
disavow,  282. 
disavow  fortune,  213. 
Discourse,  Of,  253. 
disi'over,  208. 

discovery  of  men's  estates,  270. 
Dispatch.  Of.  239. 
dispenseth  with,  262. 
disputatious,  229. 


disreputation,  284. 
distasted.  285. 
distcnper,  230. 
ditty,  2t;4. 
divinity.  218. 
doctor,  205. 
Dolemfi,  etc.,  222. 
Domitiau,  230. 
donative,  223. 
doubt,  ;?oo. 
Dry,  .!44. 
dry  blow,  254. 
dutlling.  207. 
Durer,  Albert,  275. 

Eadgar,  293. 

Ecce  ill  (lescrto,  205. 

Eccc  in  penetralihus,  205. 

•  "ntrics  and  enicycles,  228. 
•,  271. 
i:.  .ward  IV.,  274. 
effectual,  291. 
effeminate,  2.50. 
Egyptian  priest,  29tK 
ejaculation.  212. 
Eliot,  (Tcorge,  quote<l,  2,57. 
Elizabeth,  297. 
Ellis,  R.  L..  (pioted,  2.32. 
embowed  windows,  279. 
embrace  suits,  284. 
Emerson,  R.  W.,(pioted,  209,  229, 

242,  244,  245,  274,  275,  276. 
Empedocles.  242. 
Empire,  Of,  230. 
engaged,  '2iHi. 
engines  of  orbs,  228 
engrossing,  222. 
ensigns,  251. 
entertainment,  286 
entire,  281. 


308 


IX HEX   TO  XOTES 


f: 


Envy,  Of,  212. 
Epamiiiondas,  2t)8. 
Epicurus,  'Mo. 
Epitneuides,  24*2. 
Epimetheiis,  223. 
equality  of  bores,  281. 
equinoctiu,  221). 
equipollent    2(i(). 
Era  tit  in  officio,  etc.,  220. 
esculent,  2.'i5. 
Escurial,  278. 
estate,  219,  284. 
Et  coiiversus,  etc.,  216. 
even  carriage,  288. 
evil  eye,  262. 
evil-favoured,  266. 
exaltation,  267. 
excises,  248. 
excusations,  240. 
exercise,  2(58. 
exhaust,  301. 
Expense,  Of,  246. 
expert,  286. 
export  honour,  284. 
expound,  282. 
express  thyself  well,  216. 
extern,  272. 
Extinctus,  etc.,  205. 

Faber,  etc.,  267. 
facility,  21(5,  289. 
Faction,  Of,  287. 
facts,  207. 
fain,  232. 
fainted  in  it,  225. 
fair,  209. 

false  periods,  239. 
Fame ,  220. 
fast,  280. 
favour,  274,  286. 


favourites,  262,  296. 

Fawkes,  Guy,  206. 

feigned,  256. 

Feri,  etc.,  204. 

fetch,  237. 

fetching,  im. 

lifth  essence,  224. 

tinal  to  tlie  war,  250. 

first  blood,  2G6. 

lit,  2.39. 

tlags,  219. 

tlash,  249. 

flashy,  28(5. 

flat,  223. 

Fletcher,  John,  quoted,  251. 

foil,  288. 

Fois,  Gaston  de,  272. 

Followers  and  Friends,  Of,  283 

fond,  244. 

Fonsf,  etc.,  295. 

foot,  270. 

foot-pace,  296. 

foresee,  279. 

formal,  288. 

formalists,  240. 

Fortune,  Of,  267. 

forwardness,  285. 

Fox,  Richard,  234. 

frame  them  by  measure,  258. 

freedoms  from  custom,  266. 

friar  Clement,  2(5(5. 

Friendship,  Of,  241. 

fronted,  223. 

fuma,  300. 

futile,  209. 

Galba,  204. 

Galen,  292. 

gallery  of  pictures,  242. 

galliards,  254. 


IXDKX    TO  XOTES 


309 


Gallo-Giwfia,  301. 
Gardens,  Of,  280. 
Uasca,  277. 
naudery,  2.'>1. 
(lellius,  240. 
j;.'iieral,  28«»,  287. 
ueneral  contrivers,  286. 
(4erard,  Baltazar,  2(10. 
(Til)l>.>n,  Ed\\aril,  quoted,  230. 
jliiij,'les,  255. 
jriven  over,  300. 
globe,  21(5. 
jt;lorious,  258. 
gnaw,  270. 
going  wet,  282. 
(ioiizalo,  2«)8. 

Goodness,  and  Goodness  of  Na- 
ture, Gf;  248. 
grace,  2(50. 
,  racious,  28r>. 
greate.st  care,  211. 
great  pasnuages,  222. 
Great  Place,  Of,  215. 
great  spirit,  274. 
Green,  J.  R.,  quoted,  293. 
Gregory  the  Great,  299. 
grind  with  a  hand-mill,  234. 
Growing  silk,  255. 
guard, 257. 
guarded,  252. 
Guiocardine,  231. 
Gunpowder  Plot,  206. 
Gyuinosophists,  266. 

habilitatioDs,  249. 
Hadrian,  213. 
Haec  pro,  etc.,  243. 
half-lights,  209. 
hall,  246. 
hand, 23a 


Hardy,  Tluunas,  ([noted,  245. 

Harnu-hMii,  .Famh,  301. 

Harrison.  Fre<leric,  quoted,  260. 

Hatton,  I^dy,  210. 

have  intelligence,  215. 

heat,  252. 

hedge,  281. 

Helen  oi  Troy,  215^ 

Henry  II..  2(50. 

Henry  IV.,  21M. 

Henry  VII.,  294. 

Heraclitus,  244. 

Herbert,  (if orge,  cited,  226,  274. 

Ileronles.  208. 

Hennogenes,  273. 

/////(•  usura,  etc.,  221. 

his  trust,  28."». 

hoc  af/ere.  23.'). 

Holmes,  O.  W.,  quoted,  261. 

holpen,  239. 

Holy  League,  221. 

Homer,  258  ;  cited,  211. 

Huminem  delinnn,  etc.,  241. 

honour  amends,  217. 

Honovr    and     Reputation,    Ofy 

'2;*2. 
Hood,  Thomas,  quoted,  272. 
hortatives,  211. 
Hortensius,  273. 
hostages  to  fortune,  210. 
humorous,  211. 
hundred,  2;^5. 
hundred  poll,  248. 
husband,  293. 

Mem  manebat,  etc.,  273. 
Igna^mni,  etc.,  269. 
lUam  Terra,  etc.,  220. 
lUe  etiani,  i-w.,'22Hi. 
Illi  mors,  etc.,  215. 


310 


INDEX   ro  NOTES 


I 


ill  intelligence,  284. 

ill  seat,  277. 

ill  ways,  277. 

impedimenta,  256. 

irapertiuenoes,  211. 

importune,  20.'}. 

iniposeth  upon,  203. 

imposthumations,  223. 

imposts.  233. 

imprinting,  288. 

impropriate,  2.')1. 

inclination,  2&i. 

incommodities,  270. 

ineurretli,  213. 

indifferent,  211. 

industriously,  209. 

in  favour,  284. 

inflamed,  231. 

infused  opinions,  266. 

in  guard,  2.37. 

In  illo  viro,  etc.,  2(57. 

Iniquum,  etc.,  280. 

in  nocte  consilium,  235. 

Innovations,  Of,  239. 

m  studio,  etc.,  25^y. 

in  sudore,  etc.,  257,  270. 

intend,  249. 

interessed,  207. 

interest,  291. 

interlace,  216. 

Interpretation  of  Nature  quoted, 

261. 
in  the  shire,  233. 
inure,  263. 
invention,  257. 
In  vcstv,  etc.,  206. 
Invidia,  etc.,  213. 
inward.  216,  241. 
Ira  ho7nini.s,  etc.,  207. 
irritate,  290. 


Irving,  Wasliinsiton,  quoted,  211, 

217. 
Ismael  the  Sophy,  274. 
it  is  much  in  a  man's  self,  268. 
it  is  not  amiss,  255. 

jade.  253. 
Jam,  etc.,  204. 
James  I..  2i»7. 
Jamestown,  255. 
janizarie.s,  233. 
Jiiureguy,  266. 
Jesuits,  2.T». 
Jonson,  Ben,  cited,  211. 
judaize,  270. 
Judicature,  Of,  295. 
Judicis,  etc.,  290. 
Julianus,  232. 
Juno,  215. 
Jupiter,  222. 
ju)i  civitatis,  248. 
jus  commercii,  248. 
J7ts  honor u)n,  248. 
jus  suffragii,  248. 
just,  222. 
Justinian,  293. 
justs  and  tourneys,  264. 
Juveiitutem,  etc.,  271. 

keep  quarter,  215. 

keep  state.  289. 

kept  good  quarter,  237. 

kill  the  patient,  245. 

knap,  277. 

knots,  281. 

Koran,  224. 

Lamb,  Charles,  cited,  238. 
Laodiceans,  206. 
laudando  prascipere,  290. 


INDEX  TO  NOTES 


311 


lay,  285. 

lay  him  open,  237. 

leads  the  dance,  253. 

leeseth,  2^. 

Legend, 224. 

Legi,  etc.,  223. 

r^panto,  250. 

Lethe,  298. 

letter,  28(5. 

letting,  28L 

Leucippus,  224. 

levity,  213. 

liberatores,  293. 

liberius  quam,  etc.,  221. 

licentious,  220. 

lightsome,  278. 

light  well,  275. 

Li  tern  um,  274. 

little  philosophy,  224. 

Livia,  231. 

Livia,  etc.,  204. 

Livy,  267. 

loading  part,  218. 

looses,  238. 

Lorenzius  Medices,  231. 

lot,  213. 

Love,  Of,  214. 

Lucan,  221. 

Lucian,  203. 

Lucretius,  203. 

Lucullus,  278. 

lump,  210. 

lurcheth,  278. 

Lycurgos,  298. 

Machlavelli,  209. 
MactOf  262, 
Maecenas,  243. 

Maeterlinck,    Maurice,    quoted, 
226. 


Magna  chitas,  etc.,  242. 

magnanimity,  290. 

Magnijicabo,  etc.,  290. 

mogno  cnmttu,  etc.,  240. 

Mahomet,  206. 

main,  2.'{8. 

maize,  2.5.j. 

make  good,  240. 

maketh  to  he  still,  250. 

manage  (verb),  24V ;  (noun),  272. 

manure,  255. 

Marcus  Aurelius,  243. 

marish,  255. 

Marlowe,  Christopher,  cited,  213. 

Marriage  and  Zingle  Life,  Of, 

210. 
Mars,  225,  249. 
masque,  263. 

Masques  and  Triumph»t  Of,  263. 
masteries,  252. 
mate,  218. 
material,  240. 
materiani,  etc.,  222. 
matter,  2^54. 
matter  of  desire,  230. 
Matthews,  Toby,  241. 
mean  (adj.),  287;    (nounX  208, 

231,  285. 
mediation,  282. 
melior  natura,  227. 
melocotones,  280. 
Memento  quod  es  Deus,  233. 
Memento  quod  es  homo,  233. 
men  in  appetite,  283. 
mere,  218. 
mere-stone,  290. 
Messalina,  237. 
metaphor,  247. 
Metis,  234. 
mew,  248>. 


312 


INDEX   TO  NOTES 


Milton,    John,    cited,  22.'), 
quoted,  211,  22S,  2Ji2,  2Wi. 
Minerva,  215. 
mines  above  ground,  222. 
ministers,  21t<». 
mintnten,  2.'\5. 
mimnthropi,  211). 
Mithridates,  243,  247. 
Mitte,  etc.,  236. 
model,  251. 
moderate,  2.'»3. 
moderator,  240. 
moil,  255. 
Momus,  277. 
Montaigne,  204. 
more,  275. 

More,  Sir  Thomas,  270. 
morris-dance,  205. 
mortification,  201. 
Morton,  John,  2^. 
motion,  21(5,  2.CA,  298. 
motions  of  envy,  220. 
mountebanks,  217.  i 
muck,  222. 

Miiller,  Johannes,  260. 
Multum,  etc.,  266. 
muuiting,  206. 
musk-rose,  281. 
Mustapha,  231. 

Narcissus,  237. 
Narses,  212. 

natural  body  or  politic,  249. 
Natural  History  cited,  212. 
natural  predictions,  258. 
nature,  225,  23r,.  265. 
Nature  in  Men,  Of,  26S. 
naught,  257. 
necessity ,  222. 
Negotiating,  Of.  282. 


2«1; 


wf/ofiis  pares,  247,  294. 

N.'ro,  '2m. 

newe!,  27!». 

new  men,  212. 

nice,  248. 

NnhUitij,  Of,  219. 

noblesse,  222. 

Nolite  exire,  2().'i. 

Nouien,  etc..  2«9. 

Non  deos,  etc..  225. 

Non  est  curiosus,  etc.,  212. 

Non  est  jam  rlicere,  etc.,  225. 

none  worse,  258. 

Non  inreniet,  etc.,  234. 

Nts  sciinus,  etc.,  297. 

note,  285. 

not  one,  214. 

Numa,  242. 

Nunc  diniittis,  205. 

obnoxious,  2:35,  276. 
Observations  on  a  Libel  quoted, 

277. 
Octavia,  230. 
Octogesinius.  etc.,  260. 
oes,  264. 
of  course.  239. 
officious,  276,  284. 
of  itself,  2.")5. 
Omnisfama,  etc.,  293. 
Omnium  consensu,  "tc,  216. 
Omnium  qua  dixeral,  etc.,  292. 
open,  209. 
opinion,  241. 
nptimates,  287. 
Optimi  consiliarii,  etc  ,  23S. 
Optimum  elige,  etc.,  210. 
Optimus  ille,  etc.,  265. 
oracle  of  time,  249. 
oraculous,  209. 


iNDEX    TO  NOTES 


813 


orange-tawny,  270. 

orbs,  300. 

order,  230. 

Ottoman,  293. 

out  of  countenance,  290. 

out  of  cour- .,  282. 

overcome,  257. 

pack  the  cards,  236. 

Padre  commune,  288. 

pairs,  239. 

Pallas,  215. 

papacy, 232. 

parasiti  curisB,  296, 

Parce,  etc.,  254 

Parents  and  Children-,  Of,  210. 

part,  221. 

participes  curarum,  242. 

particular,  299. 

particularly,  252. 

particular  motion,  221. 

passable,  284. 

passages,  240. 

patres  patriSB,  294. 

Paul  (St.),  205,  240,  290,  297. 

Paulett,  Sir  Amyas,  239. 

Paul's,  237. 

paved,  279. 

peace  at  interr^  '  231. 

peremptory,  2-  , 

perfect  circles,  281, 

perforce,  290. 

period,  272. 

Peripatetics,  206. 

perpetual  flux,  299. 

per  saltwn,  213. 

personal,  251. 

Pertinax,  207. 

perverted,  239. 

pessimum,  etc.,  290. 


Phaeton's  car,  299. 

pliant asii),  2.'r). 

Philip  IV.,  24S. 

Philip  h-  Bel.  274. 

PhilipiHS,  etc.,  259. 

Phillips,  Stephen,  cited,  2ft?. 

philology,  ;<01, 

Phtuhus,  22.'). 

Pilate,  203. 

pine-apple  trees,  28C-, 

Piso,  240. 

place,  217. 

placebo,  235. 

Plantations,  25S. 

Plantattons,  Of,  2BA. 

platfdrin,  282. 

Plato,  205,  22-). 

Plato's  great  year,  298. 

plausible,  213. 

Plautianus,  243. 

Plant  us,  267. 

pleasing,  252. 

Plenus,  etc.,  234. 

Plinius  Secundus,  298. 

plots,  28(i. 

Plnet,  etc.,  205. 

Plutarch,  215,  227 ;  qaoted,  288. 

Piuto,  23ti. 

Plutus,  256. 

poco  di  matto,  268. 

point,  279. 

point  device,  289. 

politics,  206. 

poller,  297. 

Polycrates,  259. 

Fompa,  etc.,  204. 

Pompey,  238,  247. 

Pope,    Alexander,   qaoted,   224 

266-267. 
popular,  223. 


314 


INDEX   T(j  NOTES 


popular  states,  217. 
portions  or  seeds,  224. 
poser,  2'A. 

powder  treason,  206. 
practice,  'I'M,  283. 
Prajfniatii'al  Sanction,  248. 
Pruifo;  Of,  289. 
praying  in  aid,  244. 
precedent,  2M. 
preferments,  222. 
pregnant  of  direction,  240. 
pre-occupatetli,  204. 
prescription,  283. 
present  (adj.),  286  ;  (noun), 
presseth,  219. 
prest,  249. 
pretended,  249. 
pretendeth,  239. 
pretorian  bands,  238. 
prettily,  290. 
prevent,  2i>6. 
pricked,  282. 
prick  in,  229. 
primum  tnobile,  22i. 
Principis,  etc.,  234. 
privadoes,  242. 
privateness  and  retiring,  286 
privileged,  253. 
Probus,  223. 
Prodicns,  241. 
protit,  255. 
Prometheus,  208. 
pronounce,  295. 
proof,  210. 
i>ropcigatoret,  294. 
proper,  240,  298. 
Prophecies,  Of,  258. 
propugnatores  imperii,  9QL 
prospectives,  240. 
Protagoras,  241. 


proud  and  froward,  212. 
proud  riches,  2.'i<). 
prove  dangprou.s,  2()3. 
proyning,  'im. 
PrutlniH,  etc.,  238. 
Publilius  Syrus,  215. 
puthng  a  court  up,  297. 
Pukhrnrum,  etc.,  27ff. 
punhasing,  270. 
purprise,  296. 
push,  2<I0. 
put,  2rt2. 
put  abroad,  244. 
249.    put  himself  often  to  it,  265. 
Pythagoras,  24.3. 
Pythouissa,  258. 


quality,  289. 

Quari  vulunnis,  etc., '227. 

Quanta  patimur,  etc.,  218. 

quarrel,  212. 

quarters  to  graze,  279. 

Quebec,  249. 

quechiug,  206. 

Queen  Isabella,  288. 

Qui  de  contemnevda,  etc.,  291, 

Qui/esthiat,  etc.,  256. 

quijinem,  etc.,  205. 

Quifortiter,  etc.,  295. 

Ratbin,  272. 

Rabelais,  205. 

Rabirius  Postbamas,  286. 

race,  297. 

rate  of  interest,  269. 

Ravaillac,  266. 

ravisboth,  227. 

Rawley,  William,  quoted,  254. 

reason,  276. 

recamera,  279. 


IMtKX    TO  AO/XS 


iiio 


rewipt,  28!. 
rt*oiprn(iu«»,  215. 
Kt'duo',  'Jlt>. 

referemlarioK,  'J.sr». 
Rrf/iment  of  lleulth,  Of,  251. 
UejiioinoMtamis,  2(JU. 
rt'jilt'intMit.  271. 

Keh()l)o:iin,  2:54. 

remover,  2t).^ 

R<>inna.  24'.  •. 

Kepi)lier,  Aijnes,  quoted,  211. 

resembled,  2.")4. 

rt'sorts,  2;W. 

respect  (verb),  2.52  ;  (n<mii)   2S7. 

respeets,  21i»,  2S«). 

Rt'SjX) tales,  etc.,  240. 

rest,  282. 

resteth,  262. 

returns,  278. 

Recerifje,  Of,  207. 

reversed  order,  227. 

'ibes,  280. 

Riclies,  Of,  256. 

rid,  249. 

rifjbt  earth, '  J8. 

rise,  286. 

Romulus,  249. 

round,  203. 

Koxolana,  231. 

ruin,  297. 

Kuskia.  John,  cited,  22S. 

Sabbath,  216. 
Sabinian,  299. 
saltness,  254. 
Salus,  etc.,  297. 
talva  tores,  293. 
6arza,  242. 


Sufis  ii>it,),r.       j-ti".,  214. 
.Saturn,  227. 
satyrian.  2S0. 
»hirri  ri>\  2*.iO. 
scandal  of  priests,  225. 
scant linu,  .l^M. 
8«'atU'reil  fdunsfls,  245. 
seen.'.  2t'*i. 
8<*lioolnien,  22S. 
S<  ipio  .M'-leanns,  273. 
scope,  240. 

Scii|ttiiral  references,  204,  20.", 
•Jim;,  jot,  21<>,  '_'1J,  'Ji;'.,  'JM.  21s. 
21".i,  221.  224.  j;<0.  2;v''.  2:V4,  2:!«i. 
2;W,  •-':•.!•,  240.  'J4J.  'J44.  24ti.  247, 
24S,  -j.'l.  •_'.■.»■..  --'.".S,  2r.2,  2(M,  272, 
27S.  -jso,  -JlKt,  2<.r.,  2'X,,  2it7,  2«W, 
2if,»,  :!00. 

.scriveners  and  brokers,  257. 

second  causes,  224. 

secondinj;,  281). 

seconds.  2.S7. 

sects  of  '  '!.;!-     '-hers,  2C3. 

se''i(ii<h  ■■:  ij-  lie,  •■ ,  '-■"''. 

S'nitin.  ■>  ,.)!■'    i>  (/*//>/;«,  O/,  220. 

seeled,  ":  "i 

seelinj;   .  '-■' 

S'l'iiihii     '■ 

Sejanus,  _ 

Selymus  I. 

Seneca,  204. 

Se  )ion,  etc. 

sensible  of,  2(i3. 

sentence,  298. 

Septimnis  Severus,  208. 

seiiuester,  241. 

S'Tuenx,  etc.,  267. 

servants,  liacon's,  216,  246,283. 

set  it  even,  2<»0. 

sat  up  their  rest,  250. 


•.'■'.2. 


237. 


316 


INDEX    TO  NOTES 


s  ever,  208. 

several,  23.S. 

Shakespeare,  William,  cited,  214, 
22<>,  237,  244,  2o!»,  2«i0  ;  quoted, 
20;{,  204,  208,  210,  211.  212,  217, 
218,  219,  22;{,  2;W,  238,  243,  244, 
24<;,  254,  260,  2<J2,  26.S,  265,  276, 
281,  282,  283,  288,  289,  296,  298, 
300. 

shifts,  210. 

show,  295. 

shrewd,  238. 

Sibylla's  offer,  236. 

si'ts  alleys,  279. 

Siete  Paitidas,  293. 

Silius,  237. 

Simulation  and  Dimmulation, 
Of,  208. 

singular,  248. 

sit,  270. 

Si  vixero,. etc,,  223. 

skill,  254. 

slope,  281. 

slug,  270. 

Socrates,  277. 

solecism,  231. 

Solomon,  210,  216,  233,  234,  238, 

•2-)ii,  289,  2<)0,  295,  298. 
Solon,  247. 

Holus  imperantinm,  etc.,  216. 
solution  of  continuity,  205. 
Solvani,  etc.,  221. 
Solyman,  231. 
some  other  mean,  285. 
some  provinces,  235. 
sorted,  208,  248. 
Sospetto,  etc.,  253. 
spaces,  265. 
Spain,  239. 
spaugs,  264. 


species,  etc.,  289. 
speculative,  234. 
Spenser,  Edmund,  cited,  281,  29<j, 

301  ;  quoted,  217. 
spials,  27(). 

upreta  conncientia,  290. 
staddles,  248. 
stale  at  chess,  218. 
stand,  270. 
standing,  235. 
statua,  244. 
stay,  299. 

St.  Bartholomew  s  Day,  206. 

stick,  295. 

stiff,  287. 

still,  212. 

stirps,  219. 

stock,  222,  267. 

Stoics,  205. 

stond,  287. 

stood  upon,  249t 

stout,  247. 

stoved,  280. 

strait,  222. 

strangers,  216. 

Studies,  Of,  286. 

style,  251. 

subsidies,  248. 

success,  282. 

succession,  272. 

suck  the  experience,  229. 

sufficiency,  217. 

sui  amantes,  etc.,  238. 

suit,  300. 

Suitors,  Of,  284. 

sumptuary  laws,  222. 

Sunt  plenimque,  etc.,  231. 

superior  globe,  299. 

Superstition,  Of,  227. 

surcharge,  255. 


m^m 


INDEX   TO  NOTES 


317 


suspect  (adj.),  288  ;  (noun),  239. 

Suspicion,  Of,  262. 

suspicious,  270. 

sustentation,  301. 

Switzers,  219. 

Sylla,  242. 

Sylla,  etc.,  223. 

tacit  conformity  of  estate,  240. 

Tacitus,  204. 

take  in  with,  287. 

take  order  to,  2()2. 

take  pawns  without  use,  270. 

take  the  ply,  2«W». 

take  the  wind  of  him,  235. 

Talmud,  224. 

Tamberlanes,  213. 

tauquam  uymn,  etc.,  288. 

Tantwn  relUjio,  etc.,  206. 
telam,  etc.,  298. 

te  uper  (verb),  2i)2  ;  (noun),  230. 
tender,  282. 
tendering,  252. 

Tenuvson,    Alfred,    cited,    242  ; 
quoted,  226,  233,  271. 

terms,  24*5. 

Terra  potens,  etc.,  248. 

Testamenta,  etc.,  258. 

ITiackeray,  W.  M.,  cited,  212. 

Thales  cited,  212. 

the  first  coming,  285. 

their  time,  245. 

the  law,  250. 

Themistocles,  244. 

Theocritus  quoted,  290. 

Theodoricus,  294. 

theologues,  290. 

Thoas,  291. 

Tiberius,  204,  242. 

Tigellinus,  237. 


Tijjranes,  247. 

timinfi,  285. 

Timoleou,  2»?8. 

Timon  of  Athens,  219. 

Timotheus,  2<)8. 

tithe,  2(i'.>. 

to  feel  f^reat  riches,  288. 

to  life,  245. 

to  side  a  man's  self,  217. 

touch,  -'.-.4,  298. 

toys,  'i'M. 

tracts,  2<V.>. 

Trajan,  243. 

trash,  219. 

Travel,  Of,  i29. 
travels,  213. 

tribunitious,  235. 

triumplis,  251,278. 

trivial,  2(»0. 

True  Greatness  of  Kingdoms  and 
Estates,  Of  the,  '2H\. 

true  marshalling,  293. 

trueness  to  a  man's  self,  288. 

Truth,  Of,  203. 

try  it,  232. 

Tully,  273. 

Ta  quoque,  etc.,  259. 

Turning  dances  into  figure,  264. 

turquets,  264. 

twelve  tables,  297. 

two  for  one,  207. 

Ubi  peccat,  etc.,  275. 
Ultima  primis,  etc.,  274. 
Ulysses,  211. 
understanding,  297. 
undertakers,  255. 
undertaking,  213. 
unguent,  240. 
Unity  in  Religion,  Of,  205. 


318 


INDEX  TG  NOTES 


unplaced,  224. 

unrefidy,  272. 

upon  fjreater  means.  201, 

upon  the  gromui-story,  279. 

upon  tlie  matter,  27(>. 

lire,  2(M>. 

uscth,  223. 

ii.siiry,  2()!>. 

r^ury.  Of,  269. 

Utopia,  270. 

Utputo,  etc.,  20*. 

Vain-Glory,  Of,  200. 

value,  257. 

Vatican,  278, 

Vaughan,  Henry,  quoted,  272. 

vecture,  222. 

vena  porta,  232. 

Venient  annis,  etc.,  259. 

Vere  tnar/num,  etc.,  208. 
Vergil,  247. 
ver  perpetuum,  280. 
versatile  iiif/enium,  268. 
version,  300. 
Vespasian,  204. 

Vetulam,  etc.,  211. 

vice  Dei,  233. 

Vicissitude  of  Things,  Of,  298. 

vituim  dsemonum,  203. 

Virginia,  255. 

virtuous,  220. 

voicing,  285. 


voluntary  undoing,  246. 
votary.  '_'()<;. 
vulgar,  2it(). 

waited  upon,  ;J00. 

wantons,  210. 

wares,  2'M. 

warm  set,  280. 

waste,  255. 

weak  passion,  214. 

Websier,  John,  quoted,  256. 

welts,  281. 

when  all  is  done,  244. 

wild,  207. 

William  the  Silent,  266. 

willingness,  21H). 

Wisdomfora3fan'8  Self,  Of,  238. 
wit,  276. 
witchcraft,  212. 
without,  28(i. 

without  disadvantage,  2S12. 
Wordsworth,    William,   quoted 

273. 
work  any  man,  283. 
Wright,  W.  Aldis,  cited,  209,  241 
272  ;  quoted,  260. 

Youth  and  Age,  Of,  271. 

Zanger,  276. 
zelants,  206. 
Zeno,  205. 
Zeuxis,  274. 


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Shakespeare's  Merchant  of  Venice.    Edited  by  Charlotte  W.  Undei 

WOOD,  L'^vvis  Institute,  Chicago,  111.  t-  ^   x.^,.^o 

Shakespeare's  Midsummer  Night's  Dream.    Edited  by  E.  C.  Nov  es. 
Shakespeare's  Richard  IL    Edited  by  James  Hugh  Nioffatt. 
Shakespeare's  The  Tempest.    Edited  by  S.C.  Newsom 
Shakespeare's  Twelfth  Night.    Edited  by  Edward  P.  Morton. 
Shelley  and  Keats  (Selections  from).    Edited  by  S  C.  nkwsom. 
Sheridan's  The  Rivals,  and  The  School  lor  Scandal.    Edited  by  W.  I 

Southern  Poets  (Selections  from).    Edited  by  W.  L.  Weber. 
Spenser's   Faerie   Queene,  Book  I.   Edited  by  George  Armstron 

WaUCHOPE  Professor  of  English  in  the  South  Carolina  College. 
Stevenson's  Kidnapped.    Edited  by  John  Thompson  Brown. 
Stevenson's  Master  of  Ballantrae.    E'Mted  bv  H  A.  W  kite. 
Stevenson's  Treasure  Island.    Edited  by  H.  A.  Vance,  Professor  of  En 

lish  in  the  University  of  Nashville. 
Swift's  Gulliver's  Travels.    Edited  by  Clifton  Johnson. 
Trnnyson's  Idylls  of  the  King.    Edited  by  W    T.  Vlymen,  Pr.ncip 

of  Eastern  District  High  School.  Brooklyn,  N.Y.  ^,„.,.,,.„ 

Tennyson's  Shorter  Poems.    Edited  by  Charles  Read  Nutter. 
Tennyson's  The  Princess.     Edited  by  Wilson  Parrand. 
Thackeray's  Henry  Esmond.    Edited  by  John  Bell  Henneman,  Ui 

versitv  of  the  South,  Sewanee,  Tenn.  .    .„.     ^  „     ,       «-ii  « 

'Washington's  Farewell  Address,  and  Webster  s  First  Bunker  Hill  Oi 

tion.     Edited  bv  WILLIAM  T.  PECK. 


tion. 
John  Woolman's  Journal. 
Wordsworth's  Shorter  Poems. 


Edited  by  EuWARD  FULTON. 


THE    MACMTLLAN    COMPANY 

64  56  FIFTH  AVENUE,   NEW  YORK 


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